How to tell them apart
とは言え accepts a preceding fact as true and then presents a contrast, often with objective facts such as 4月とはいえまだ寒い. と言っても quotes a word or claim and then weakens it to mean but in fact, such as 日本人と言っても納豆は苦手だ. The two can overlap when limiting a label, so swapping is often possible and the choice depends on whether you simply concede or correct an impression.
- とは言え Use とは言え to concede a true fact or status and then add a contrasting judgment.
- と言っても Use と言っても to quote a description or claim and then limit it by showing the reality is different.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| とは言え toha e | even so; that said; while it may be true | N1 |
| と言っても to ttemo | even though one says ~; although called ~; ~ but in fact | N2 |
とは言え toha e
even so; that said; while it may be true
とは言え concedes that a fact is true and then introduces a contrasting result, meaning even so or that said. It follows plain-form verbs and i-adjectives, and nouns or na-adjective stems without だ, as in 休んだとは言え or 春とは言え. It is common in written and formal speech for softening disagreement, and the clause after it often contains まだ, でも, or a negative evaluation.
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あぁ……、若かったとはいえ、しょうもない凡ミスだ。
Ahh ... well I was young but what a stupid mistake.
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いくら好きとは言え、３日連続カレーはきついよな。
No matter how much you might think you like curry, three nights in a row is more than enough.
と言っても to ttemo
even though one says ~; although called ~; ~ but in fact
といっても acknowledges a name, category, or statement and then limits or corrects what the listener might expect, giving a sense of although called X, in fact Y. It attaches to a noun or to a plain form verb or adjective, as in 先生といっても or 知っているといっても. It is neutral in style, and the clause that follows must downplay or revise the first part rather than state an unrelated result.
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先生といってもいろいろある。
There are teachers and then there are teachers.
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一口に英会話教材といっても、千差万別だ。
They all get lumped together as English texts. But in fact these books are extremely varied and wide-ranging.
とは言え and と言っても are JLPT N2–N1 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.