even if; even though; despite ~ (といえども) – Japanese Grammar といえども (to ie domo)

Q: What JLPT level is といえども?

JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Q: How do you use といえども in a sentence?

Attach といえども to the appropriate verb or noun form. Even if; even though; despite ~

Q: Is といえども formal or casual Japanese?

といえども is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

といえども

N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

to ie domo

even if; even though; despite ~

の極み no kiwami まるっきり marukkiri もしくは moshikuwa ぶる / ぶって / ぶった buru / butte / butta だの〜だの dano~dano ないものでもない nai mono demo nai をいいことに o ii koto ni に限ったことではない ni kagitta koto dewa nai がてら gatera を機に o ki ni いかなる ikanaru 可能性がある kanousei ga aru とされる to sareru なしに / なしで nashi ni / nashi de ながらに / ながらの nagara ni/no とは打って変わって/ とは打って変わり towa utte kawatte / to wa utte kawari もしないで mo shinai de はさておき wa sateoki を限りに o kagiri ni て敵わない te kanawanai の極み no kiwami まるっきり marukkiri もしくは moshikuwa ぶる / ぶって / ぶった buru / butte / butta だの〜だの dano~dano ないものでもない nai mono demo nai をいいことに o ii koto ni に限ったことではない ni kagitta koto dewa nai がてら gatera を機に o ki ni いかなる ikanaru 可能性がある kanousei ga aru とされる to sareru なしに / なしで nashi ni / nashi de ながらに / ながらの nagara ni/no とは打って変わって/ とは打って変わり towa utte kawatte / to wa utte kawari もしないで mo shinai de はさておき wa sateoki を限りに o kagiri ni て敵わない te kanawanai

🃏 Flashcard

といえども

to ie domo

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even if; even though; despite ~

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N1

Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Reading to ie domo

Post ID 51388

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

even if; even though; despite ~

📖 How to use it

Even if, even though, despite; concessive pattern used to emphasize that something holds true regardless of a stated condition or status.

Attaches to Attaches to the dictionary form of verbs and adjectives, and to nouns directly (without だ). For な-adjectives and nouns, also used with である (e.g., 子供であるといえども).

This is a formal, literary pattern meaning 'even if' or 'even though', but it carries a stronger sense of 'no matter that it is X, still...'. It is often used to acknowledge a fact or status that would normally suggest one thing, then state a contradiction or exception. For example, 彼が上司といえども、間違いは指摘すべきだ means 'Even if he is my boss, I should point out his mistakes.' The pattern stresses the force of the second clause despite the first.

In speech, it is rarely heard; it belongs to written language, formal speeches, or rhetorical statements. When used in conversation, it can sound pompous or dramatic. It can also be used with nouns to mean 'even someone like X' or 'even something like X', often followed by a negative or a surprising outcome.

Note the nuance: it is not merely 'although' but suggests 'even granting that', so the second clause often expresses something that is not expected given the first clause. It is N1 level and common in news, essays, and legal documents.

たとえ天才といえども、努力なしに成功はできない。

Tatoe tensai to iedomo, doryoku nashi ni seikou wa dekinai.

Even if you are a genius, you cannot succeed without effort.

子供といえども、自分の行動には責任を持たなければならない。

Kodomo to iedomo, jibun no koudou ni wa sekinin o motanakereba naranai.

Even a child must take responsibility for their own actions.

医者といえども、すべての病気を治せるわけではない。

Isha to iedomo, subete no byouki o naoseru wake dewa nai.

Even a doctor cannot cure every disease.

Not といってもといっても means 'even though you say X' or 'but I mean', used to soften or correct a statement, and is conversational. といえども is formal and literary, meaning 'even if it is' with a concessive nuance, often used for emphasis in writing.

Register Formal, literary, and rarely used in everyday conversation; common in written language, speeches, and formal contexts.

🎯 Quick Quiz

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といえども

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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とばかりに

as if to say; as though~

と言えなくもない

it can also be said that ~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern といえども mean? ▼

Even if; even though; despite ~

What JLPT level is といえども? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use といえども in a sentence? ▼

Attach といえども (to ie domo) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is といえども formal or casual Japanese? ▼

といえども is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember といえども long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.