JLPT N3. Slightly informal. Used mainly in conversation.

We have already covered the grammar for this phrase and the usage can be understood with a direct translation because we have similar expressions in English. The phrase is used to caveat a fact that you state in the prior clause.

彼が社長だといっても会社には社員が三人しかいません。
I say he’s a CEO, but the company only has three employees.

日本語ができるといってもまだ漢字を読んだり書いたりすることができない。
I say he can speak Japanese, but he cannot yet read or write kanji.

Note that in most cases we can form the same expression just by using “but” as a conjunction; but といっても has nuance that you are qualifying the prior statement rather than contradicting it.

You May Also Like

Nothing Else to Do

しかない can also be added to the dictionary form of verbs to express that you have no choice…

Speaking Objectively

Both にしては and わりには allow us to make statements about things in an objective manner. 彼は年の割に若く見えます。 He looks…

The Directional Particle (へ)

The directional particle へ could be said to be a more literary version of the target particle に…

Imperative Verbs

At the moment the only way we have to give an order is to ask politely for someone…