～と言っても

～といっても

Although ~ might say that ~

辛からいと言いってもピリ辛からだから、あなたでも食たべれると思おもうよ。

Even though I say it is spicy, it is only slightly spicy, so I think you should be able to eat it.

Explanation

「～と言っても」 means 'although I say..., in fact...'. You admit a statement, then tone down the impression the listener may have, saying the reality is limited: 「料理ができると言っても、卵焼きぐらいです」 (I say I can cook, but it's only rolled omelettes). It is often used modestly. The second half often has 「ただ～だけ」, 「ほんの」, 「少し」, 「～にすぎない」 or 「～しか…ない」.

Mixed up with

「とはいえ」 (N2) is stiffer and written; it is a logical concession: 'that said, however...'.

「と言っても」 works in speech and writing, and corrects the expectation the first statement creates.

When the second half has toning-down words like 「たいしたことはない」 or 「たった～だけ」, choose 「と言っても」.

Examples

毎日まいにち走はしると言いっても、１５分ふんしか走はしらないよ。
Although I say I run every day, I only run for 15 minutes.
彼かれは天才てんさいだと言いっても、数学すうがくだけなんだよ。
He's a genius, I suppose, but only at maths.
プレゼントと言いっても、たいしたものじゃないよ。
It's a present, but it's nothing special.
この肉にくは新鮮しんせんだと言いっても、３日か前まえに買かったからそんなに新鮮しんせんではない。
Although I say this meat is fresh, I bought it 3 days ago, so it is not that fresh.
新幹線しんかんせんだと言いってもこだまに乗のるから、そんなに早はやく着つかないと思おもう。
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.
先生せんせいって言いっても、いろんな人ひとがいるよね。
They may all be called "sensei", but there are all kinds of people.
楽たのしいって言いっても、サッカーの方ほうが楽たのしいと思おもう。
Although you might say it is fun, soccer is more fun.
ほしいって言いっても、高たかくて自分じぶんでは買かえません。
Although I might say I want it, it is expensive and I can't buy it for myself.
温暖おんだんな気候きこうって言いっても、冬ふゆには雪ゆきが降ふるよ。
Although you can say that the climate is warm, it still snows in winter.
彼かれは画家がかと言いっても、自称じしょう画家がかというだけなんだよ。
Although he might say that he is an artist, he is only a self-proclaimed artist.
泳およぐのが好すきだと言いっても、平ひら泳およぎしかできないんだけどね。
Although I say that I like swimming, I can't do anything but the breaststroke.
有名ゆうめいだと言いっても、日本にほんで知しらない人ひともいる。
Although one can say it is famous, it doesn't mean it is known among all Japanese.
僕ぼくの鞄かばんは重おもいと言いっても、君きみのはもっと重おもい。
Although I say that my bag is heavy, yours is heavier.
この問題もんだいは簡単かんたんだと言いっても、解とくのに時間じかんはかかる。
Although I might say that this problem is easy, it will still take time to solve.
魚さかな釣つりが趣味しゅみと言いっても、実じつは得意とくいではない。
Although I say that my hobby is fishing, it doesn't mean I am a good fisher.
危険きけんと言いっても、注意ちゅういすれば大丈夫だいじょうぶだ。
It may be dangerous, but you'll be fine if you're careful.
難むずかしいと言いっても、実際じっさいにやってみると意外いがいと簡単かんたんです。
Even though it is said that it is difficult, once you actually try it, it is quite easy.

～と言っても

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

Tested 4 times in past papers