とは言うものの

とはいうものの

Although, But, Although I say, Although it is said, Having said that

今いま働はたらいている会社かいしゃの給料きゅうりょうはいいとはいうものの、お金かねを使つかう時間じかんがない。

Although the pay at my current company is good, I don't have any time to use my money.

Explanation

「〜とは言うものの」 means 'although it is said that ..., ...'. It first grants the stated name or premise, then points out that the reality is different: 「春とは言うものの、まだまだ風が冷たい」 (It may be spring, but the wind is still cold), 「景気が回復したとは言うものの、庶民の暮らしは楽になっていない」 (The economy is said to have recovered, but ordinary people's lives haven't gotten easier). It can also start a sentence: 「とは言うものの、……」. It is formal and common in commentary and essays.

Mixed up with

「〜とは言うものの」: careful tone; 'so it is in name, but reality differs'.

「〜とは言え」: tighter and common in writing; 'even if that is true, it doesn't mean ...'.

「〜にしても」: treats the first part as an assumption or concession; a stronger personal turn, used in speech and writing.

Examples

試験しけんまであと一か月いっかげつだ。とは言いうものの、なかなかやる気きが出でない。
The exam is a month away. Having said that, I just can't get motivated.
コーヒーは体からだに良いいとは言いうものの、飲のみ過すぎると却かえって体からだに悪わるくなってしまいます。
Although coffee is said to be good for you, drinking too much actually harms your body.
数学すうがくは時間じかんの無駄むだだとは言いうものの、やはり基本きほんを知しる価値かちだってある。
Although it is said that math is a waste of time, actually, learning the basics still has its value.
なんでも頑張がんばれば必かならずできるようになるとはいうものの、どれだけ頑張がんばってもできないことはある。
Although it is said that you will be able to do something if you try your best, there are things that can't be done no matter how much you try.
彼かれは学生がくせいだというものの、バイトばかりしていて勉強べんきょうについていけていない。
Although he is a student, he is falling behind with his studies because he works a lot.
スマホは便利べんりだというものの、使つかい方かたがわからないとスマホの便利べんりさを実感じっかんしきれない。
Although it is said that smartphones are useful, if you don't know how to use them, you can't fully appreciate their usefulness.
彼かれはホラー作家さっかとして知しられているとは言いうものの、傑作けっさくと言いえるものは１９８２年ねんに出版しゅっぱんされた犯罪はんざい小説しょうせつだ。
Although he is known as a horror author, what can be called his masterpiece is actually a crime novel that was published in 1982.
チェコの「ストラホフ・スタジアム」は「世界せかい最大さいだいのスポーツスタジアム」とは言いうものの、実際じっさいにはスポーツ目的もくてきにはほとんど使つかわれていない。
Although the Czech 'Strahov Stadium' is said to be the 'world's largest sports stadium', in practice it is hardly used for sports purposes.
このカフェは人気にんきが高たかいとは言いうものの、実際じっさいには知しる人ひとぞ知しる所ところだ。
Although this café is said to be popular, it's really a place only those in the know have heard of.
それは「人工じんこう知能ちのう」とは言いうものの、まだ「知能ちのう」というよりも「コンピューター」に近ちかいものだ。
Although that is called 'artificial intelligence', it is still closer to a 'computer' than actual 'intelligence'.
死後しごの世界せかいなどないとは言いうものの、あると信しんじたっていいとも思おもう。
Although it is said that there is no life after death, even if you believe in it, I think that’s fine.
娘むすめは結婚式けっこんしきなんてお金かねの無駄むだだとは言いうものの、本当ほんとうはしたいと思おもっているはずだ。
Although my daughter says weddings are a waste of money, I'm sure she really wants one.
運命うんめいは既すでに決きまっているとは言いうものの、僕ぼくは自分じぶんで自分じぶんの運命うんめいを切きり開ひらいていきたいです。
Although it is said that fate is already decided, I want to determine my own fate.
「接客業せっきゃくぎょうではお客様きゃくさまが第一だいいち」とは言いうものの、お客きゃくさん側がわにも少すこしは礼儀れいぎをわきまえて欲ほしいものだ。
Although they say 'in the service industry the customer comes first', I wish customers would show at least a little courtesy too.
恋愛れんあいとは違ちがって友情ゆうじょうは一生いっしょう続つづくものだとは言いうものの、続つづかない友情ゆうじょうだっていくらでもあると思おもいます。
Although they say that, unlike romance, friendship lasts a lifetime, I think there are plenty of friendships that don't last.
父ちちは「もう熱ねつも下さがったし大丈夫だいじょうぶだ」とは言いうものの、大事だいじを取とってもう少すこし入院にゅういんしておいて欲ほしいのが本音ほんねである。
Although dad is saying ‘My fever has already gone down, it’s fine’, my real opinion is that I want him to stay in the hospital just a little bit longer to play it safe.