〜といっても
to itte mo
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
although I say ..., (actually not that much)
〜といっても means "although I say…, (actually not that much)". It lowers the expectation created by the first statement: I can speak Japanese, but only greetings; we have a garden, though it's tiny; I say "trip", but I only went to the next town.
Both registers. It follows nouns and plain forms. The second clause scales down or qualifies. Sentence-initial といっても ("that said") responds to what was just said. Do not confuse with たとえ〜ても ("even if").
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
普通形 / N + といっても
Visual diagram
- 日本語ができるclaim that raises expectations
- といってもalthough I say that…
- 挨拶程度ですscaled-down reality
Natural examples
日本語ができるといっても、挨拶程度です。
にほんごができるといっても、あいさつていどです。
I can speak Japanese, but only greetings really.
Skill scaled down.
庭があるといっても、とても小さい。
にわがあるといっても、とてもちいさい。
We have a garden, though it's very small.
Possession scaled down.
旅行といっても、隣の町に行っただけだ。
りょこうといっても、となりのまちにいっただけだ。
I say "trip", but I only went to the next town.
A noun scaled down.
料理ができるといっても、簡単なものしか作れません。
りょうりができるといっても、かんたんなものしかつくれません。
I say I can cook, but I can only make simple things.
しか〜ない in the second clause.
新しい仕事を始めた。といっても、前とほとんど同じ内容だ。
あたらしいしごとをはじめた。といっても、まえとほとんどおなじないようだ。
I started a new job. That said, it's almost the same as before.
Sentence-initial といっても.
Similar grammar and the difference
Hypothetical concession ("even if"); といっても qualifies a real statement. Compare side by side
Formal "even so, though"; close in meaning, more written. Compare side by side
Corrects the description rather than scaling it down. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 日本語ができるといっても、ペラペラです。
- ✓
- 日本語ができるといっても、挨拶程度です。
- Why
- The second clause must lower expectations, not raise them.
- ✗
- 雨が降るといっても、行く。（intending "even if it rains"）
- ✓
- たとえ雨が降っても、行く。
- Why
- Hypothetical "even if" is たとえ〜ても.
- ✗
- 旅行のといっても
- ✓
- 旅行といっても
- Why
- Nouns attach directly.
Second clauses often contain 程度, だけ, しか〜ない, ほんの. Sentence-initial といっても / とはいっても = "that said". Casual: 〜って言っても.
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- A claim + blank + a scaled-down qualification (程度・だけ・しか) → といっても.
- Distractors: たとえ〜ても, というより, といったら. If the sentence begins with たとえ, it is not といっても.
- In 並べ替え, といっても sits right after the claim chunk.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜といっても mean?
although I say ..., (actually not that much). 〜といっても means "although I say…, (actually not that much)". It lowers the expectation created by the first statement: I can speak Japanese, but only greetings; we have a garden, though it's tiny; I say "trip", but I only went to the next town.
How do you form 〜といっても?
普通形 / N + といっても. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜といっても used?
Both registers. It follows nouns and plain forms. The second clause scales down or qualifies. Sentence-initial といっても ("that said") responds to what was just said. Do not confuse with たとえ〜ても ("even if").
What is the difference between 〜といっても and たとえ〜ても?
Hypothetical concession ("even if"); といっても qualifies a real statement.
What is the difference between 〜といっても and 〜とはいえ?
Formal "even so, though"; close in meaning, more written.
What is a common mistake with 〜といっても?
Wrong: 日本語ができるといっても、ペラペラです。 Right: 日本語ができるといっても、挨拶程度です。 The second clause must lower expectations, not raise them.
Quick check
英語が話せる（ ）、簡単な会話ぐらいです。