N3 Contrast, Comparison, and Concession

~といっても: meaning, usage and examples

~といっても means: although I say... / even though...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 料理りょうりをするといっても、ラーメンぐらいですよ。

   When I say I cook, it's just about making ramen.

2. 旅行りょこうといっても、近ちかくの温泉おんせんに行いっただけです。

   I call it a trip, but I just went to a nearby hot spring.

3. 日曜日にちようびも働はたらいているといっても、午前ごぜん中ちゅうだけです。

   I do work on Sundays too, but only in the morning.

4. 英語えいごが話はなせるといっても、あいさつぐらいです。

   I can speak English, but only enough to say hello.

When to use it

Means 'I said X, but...' or 'even though it's X'. Use it to lower what the listener might imagine from your words: 旅行りょこうといっても、近ちかくの温泉おんせんだけ 'I call it a trip, but I only went to a nearby hot spring'. The second half explains that the real situation is smaller or simpler.

Nuance

Modest and conversational; it often sounds humble when you talk about yourself. The second part often has だけ, くらい, or あまり. In polite speech it is still といっても; the verb before it stays plain.

Compare

Compare ても (even if): 雨あめが降ふっても行いく is about a condition. といっても corrects an impression: 雨あめといっても小雨こさめ 'it's raining, but only lightly'. Compare というより, which replaces a word with a better one rather than making it smaller.

Tip: Use it when your first word sounds bigger than reality. Follow it with だけ or くらい to make the second half clear.