と言ってもいい
🃏 Flashcard
と言ってもいい
to ittemo ii
Tap to reveal usage
you could say; one might say; I'd say
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
to ittemo ii
Post ID
50789
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
you could say; one might say; I'd say
📖 How to use it
Says that a statement is a fair or acceptable way to describe something, softening the claim.
Attaches to
Attach to the plain form of a verb/adjective or to a noun + だ (the copula). For verbs, use the dictionary form (e.g., 言う), not the stem or te-form.
This pattern is used when you want to say that something could reasonably be described in a certain way, without insisting it's the only or absolute truth. It's like saying 'you could call it...' or 'I'd say it's...' in English. It softens the statement, making it sound more modest or conversational.
今日は暑いと言ってもいいでしょう。
Kyou wa atsui to ittemo ii deshou.
You could say it's hot today.
彼は天才だと言ってもいい。
Kare wa tensai da to ittemo ii.
I'd say he's a genius.
この映画は面白いと言ってもいいです。
Kono eiga wa omoshiroi to ittemo ii desu.
You could say this movie is interesting.
Not と言える (to ieru)
と言ってもいい means 'it's okay to say' (permission/softening), while と言える means 'one can say' (ability/possibility). They are often interchangeable, but と言ってもいい sounds more like the speaker is giving their own opinion, while と言える is more objective.
Register
Neutral, used in both speaking and writing; it's a common conversational pattern, especially with でしょう to soften further.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
と言ってもいい
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat と言ってもいい 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 と言ってもいい. 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 N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern と言ってもいい mean?
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You could say; one might say; I'd say
What JLPT level is と言ってもいい?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use と言ってもいい in a sentence?
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Attach と言ってもいい (to ittemo ii) 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 と言ってもいい formal or casual Japanese?
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と言ってもいい is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember と言ってもいい long-term?
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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.