〜といっても to itte mo

〜といっても（to itte mo）means “although I say ...; even though I call it ...”. You bring up a word or fact, then immediately scale back what the listener might expect from it: 'I say X, but it's not as much as you'd think. Formation: V／Aい／Aな／N（普通形）＋ といっても（Nは「N（だ）といっても」、「だ」は省略可）

although I say ...; even though I call it ...

N3

Formation

V／Aい／Aな／N（普通形）＋ といっても（Nは「N（だ）といっても」、「だ」は省略可）

Explanation

You bring up a word or fact, then immediately scale back what the listener might expect from it: 'I say X, but it's not as much as you'd think.' The second clause corrects the exaggerated impression.

Examples

日本語が話せるといっても、あいさつくらいです。
にほんごがはなせるといっても、あいさつくらいです。
Although I say I can speak Japanese, it's only greetings or so.
旅行に行くといっても、近くの温泉に一泊するだけだ。
りょこうにいくといっても、ちかくのおんせんにいっぱくするだけだ。
Even though I say I'm going on a trip, it's just one night at a nearby hot spring.

Note

The second clause usually downplays expectations (often with くらい/だけ/それほど〜ない).

FAQ

〜といっても — what does it mean and how is it used?

although I say ...; even though I call it .... You bring up a word or fact, then immediately scale back what the listener might expect from it: 'I say X, but it's not as much as you'd think.' The second clause corrects the exaggerated impression.

〜といっても — how do you form it?

V／Aい／Aな／N（普通形）＋ といっても（Nは「N（だ）といっても」、「だ」は省略可）

〜といっても — any usage notes?

The second clause usually downplays expectations (often with くらい/だけ/それほど〜ない).

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