Grammar JLPT Level N3 - Lesson 10
Structure of と言(い)っても:
Verb + と言っても
[い]Adjective + と言っても
[な]Adjective + (だ) + と言っても
Noun + (だ) + と言っても
Details about と言(い)っても:
As a construction that combines と言う (presenting the previous statement as a quotation) and ても, meaning 'even if (A)', or 'even though (A)', と言っても will mean 'even if I say (A)', or 'although I say (A)'. This expression is used when the speaker wants to highlight (A), but draw the listener's attention to (B), in order to clarify something.
This expression may be used after any word in almost any tense, due to the case marking particle と is being used in its quotation role. However, な-Adjectives and nouns will sometimes be followed by だ (although it is regularly omitted).
This expression may be used after any word in almost any tense, due to the case marking particle と is being used in its quotation role. However, な-Adjectives and nouns will sometimes be followed by だ (although it is regularly omitted).
- 毎日走ると言っても、15分しか走らないよ。Although I say I run every day, I only run for 15 minutes.
- 辛いと言ってもピリ辛だから、あなたでも食べれると思うよ。Even though I say it is spicy, it is only slightly spicy, so I think you should be able to eat it.
- この肉は新鮮だと言っても、3日前に買ったからそんなに新鮮ではない。Although I say this meat is fresh, I bought it 3 days ago, so it is not that fresh.
- 新幹線だと言ってもこだまに乗るから、そんなに早く着かないと思う。Although I say I'm going by shinkansen, I will be riding the Kodama, so I don't think I will get there that fast.
と言(い)っても
Usage Notes for と言(い)っても:
Synonyms for と言(い)っても:
Example of と言(い)っても
魚釣りが趣味と言っても、実は得意ではない。
Although I say that my hobby is fishing, to be honest, I am not good at it.
プレゼントと言っても、たいしたものはない。
Although I say that it is a present, it is nothing special.
泳ぐのが好きだと言っても、平泳ぎしかできないんだけどね。
Although I might say that I like swimming, I can't do anything but the breaststroke.
僕の鞄は重いと言っても、君のはもっと重い。
Although I say that my bag is heavy, yours is heavier.
この問題は簡単だと言っても、解くのに時間はかかる。
Although I might say that this problem is easy, it will still take time to solve.
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