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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜と言えど

    〜と言えど

    〜と言えど

    This means 'even if' or 'although'. You use it when something is true, even with a difficult condition.

    N1KMT7FormalStandardConjunctionWritten OnlyOlder SpeakersClassicalClassical ConcessionGrammar

    Noun + と言えどPrimary
    Verb [dictionary form] + と言えど
    い-Adjective + と言えど
    な-Adjective + と言えど

    This means 'even if' or 'although'. You use it when something is true, even with a difficult condition.

    ここは安あん全ぜんな地ち域いきと言いえど、深しん夜やの外がい出しゅつは控ひかえるべきである。

    Although this is a safe area, one should refrain from going out late at night.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceObligationDaily LifeHome & Housing
    いかに専せん門もん家かと言いえど、全すべての質しつ問もんに答こたえられるわけではない。

    Even an expert cannot necessarily answer every single question.

    FormalNon PastNegativeMid SentenceConcessiveWork & CareerEducation
    長なが年ねん敵てき対たいしたと言いえど、彼かれの死しには哀あい悼とうの意いを表ひょうする。

    Although we were adversaries for many years, I express my condolences for his death.

    FormalPastAffirmativeMid SentenceConcessiveHistoryPolitics & Law
    相あい手てが子こ供どもと言いえど、勝しょう負ぶの世せ界かいでは手て加か減げんは無む用ようだ。

    Even if the opponent is a child, in the world of competition, there's no need to hold back.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceConcessiveSports & Martial ArtsGames
    彼かれはまだ若わか者ものだ。若わか者ものと言いえど、その意い見けんには傾けい聴ちょうに値あたいするものがある。

    He is still a young man. But even for a young person, his opinions contain things worth listening to.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialConcessiveWork & CareerPolitics & Law

    This grammar says, "Yes, this first thing is true. But even so, the second thing is more important." It makes the second part sound very strong.

    This is like "even if" or "although." It is more old-fashioned than "〜といえども." "〜と言えど" shows a surprising case. It means the next part is still true. "〜ものの" just shows two different facts.

    Don't use this when you talk to friends. For example, saying "Even if it's a cat, it's cute" with this grammar sounds strange. This phrase is for very formal writing or speeches. It comes before you say what you think is true or what must happen.

    Less formal alternatives(1)

    〜といえども

    This phrase means "even if" or "although." You use it to say something is true, even when another thing might make you think it is not.

    辞書形

    This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

    〜といっても

    You use this when you say something, but then want to show that it is not completely true. It means "even though I said X" or "although it's called X".

    〜とはいえ

    You use this to agree with something. But then you want to say something different. It is like saying 'even though' or 'having said that'.

    〜のに

    This word means "even though" or "despite." You use it when something happens that you do not expect. It can show you are surprised or unhappy.

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    Related concepts for this entry

    less_formal_than

    • 〜といえども

    prerequisite

    • 辞書形
    • 〜といっても
    • 〜とはいえ
    • 〜のに

    Similar concepts

    • 〜ども
    • 〜ながらも

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