although I say; although one might say~ (といっても) – Japanese Grammar といっても (to ittemo)

Q: What JLPT level is といっても?

JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Q: How do you use といっても in a sentence?

Attach といっても to the appropriate verb or noun form. Although I say; although one might say~

Q: Is といっても formal or casual Japanese?

といっても can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

といっても

N3 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

to ittemo

although I say; although one might say~

きり kiri 中 chuu / juu なんか / なんて nanka / nante なるべく naru beku ている場合じゃない teiru baai janai さえ～ば sae~ba すなわち sunawachi に対して ni taishite ふりをする furi o suru も～ば～も mo~ba~mo につれて ni tsurete ば～ほど ba~hodo ずに zuni こそ koso べきだ beki da つもりで tsumori de もしも〜たら moshimo~tara わけではない wake dewa nai 割に wari ni しばらく shibaraku きり kiri 中 chuu / juu なんか / なんて nanka / nante なるべく naru beku ている場合じゃない teiru baai janai さえ～ば sae~ba すなわち sunawachi に対して ni taishite ふりをする furi o suru も～ば～も mo~ba~mo につれて ni tsurete ば～ほど ba~hodo ずに zuni こそ koso べきだ beki da つもりで tsumori de もしも〜たら moshimo~tara わけではない wake dewa nai 割に wari ni しばらく shibaraku

🃏 Flashcard

といっても

to ittemo

Tap to reveal usage

although I say; although one might say~

Tap to test your recall · +10 XP

📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N3

Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Reading to ittemo

Post ID 50950

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

although I say; although one might say~

📖 How to use it

Says that although something can be described in a certain way, the reality is different or less impressive.

Attaches to Attach to the plain form of a sentence: verb (dictionary or past), い-adjective, な-adjective + だ, or noun + だ. After だ, it becomes といっても.

Use といっても to acknowledge a label or description, then immediately qualify it by saying the actual situation is not quite that extreme. It's like saying 'that said' or 'though I say that' in English. The first part is often a word or phrase that might overstate things, and the second part explains the nuance.

This pattern is common in spoken and written Japanese. It is neutral in formality but appears frequently in conversation as a natural way to correct expectations. You can use it with nouns, adjectives, or verbs, but the key is that the first part is a full statement (or a noun + だ) that you then soften.

日本料理が好きだといっても、毎日食べているわけではありません。

Nihon ryoori ga suki da to ittemo, mainichi tabete iru wake dewa arimasen.

Though I say I like Japanese food, it's not like I eat it every day.

この仕事は簡単だといっても、初心者には難しいかもしれません。

Kono shigoto wa kantan da to ittemo, shoshinsha ni wa muzukashii kamoshiremasen.

Though I say this job is easy, it might be difficult for beginners.

休みを取ったといっても、一日だけです。

Yasumi o totta to ittemo, ichinichi dake desu.

Though I said I took a day off, it was only one day.

Not からといってからといって means 'just because... doesn't mean' and focuses on a reason not leading to a conclusion, while といっても simply says 'although I call it X, actually Y'.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

といっても

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat といっても three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

🃏

Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using といっても. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

⏰

Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns

← Previous

といい / たらいい

it would be nice if; should; I hope~

ということだ

I heard; it means~; in other words~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern といっても mean? ▼

Although I say; although one might say~

What JLPT level is といっても? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use といっても in a sentence? ▼

Attach といっても (to ittemo) 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 といっても formal or casual Japanese? ▼

といっても is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember といっても 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.