〜とは言え

Although/that Said

Level 4Sounds Like tohaie

Use 〜とは言え to say 'Although [A] is true, [B] is the reality.' It is a formal way to concede a point before providing a counter-point or exception.

How It Works

1. Meaning and Nuance
〜とは言え is used when the speaker wants to acknowledge that a preceding statement is true, but then adds information that limits its impact or presents a contradiction. Unlike the casual けど, it carries a nuance of 'Even if we call it [A], the reality is [B].'

2. Grammatical Attachment
It attaches to the Plain Form of verbs, adjectives, and nouns:

  • Verbs: 終わった (finished) + とは言え
  • い-Adjectives: 忙しい (busy) + とは言え
  • な-Adjectives: 静か (quiet) + とは言え (the copula だ is optional)
  • Nouns: プロ (professional) + とは言え (the copula だ is optional)

It can also be used at the start of a sentence as a standalone conjunction: 「とは言え、...」 (That said, ...).

3. Register and Usage
This is a formal, literary expression (JLPT N1 level). It is common in essays, news reports, and professional speeches. In casual conversation, speakers usually prefer 〜といっても or simple contrast markers. While it can be written with kanji (とは言え), it is very frequently written in hiragana (とはいえ) in modern Japanese.

Examples (4)

  1. 春とは言え、まだ風が冷たい。

    Although it is spring, the wind is still cold.

    Word by Word: Spring although-it-is, still wind (subject) cold.

    Here, the speaker concedes that the season is officially 'spring,' but points out the reality that it doesn't feel warm yet.

  2. 不景気だとは言え、この店の売り上げは落ちていない。

    Even though we are in a recession, this store's sales have not dropped.

    Word by Word: Recession is although-it-is, this store's sales (topic) have not fallen.

    The speaker acknowledges the general economic situation (recession) but highlights an exception (the store's success).

  3. 彼はまだ未成年だ。とは言え、自分の行動には責任を持つべきだ。

    He is still a minor. That said, he should take responsibility for his actions.

    Word by Word: He (topic) still minor is. That said, own actions-to responsibility (object) should hold.

    In this example, とは言え is used at the start of the second sentence to contrast the fact of being a minor with the expectation of responsibility.

  4. 仕事が忙しいとは言え、健康管理を怠ってはいけない。

    Even though work is busy, you must not neglect your health.

    Word by Word: Work (subject) busy although-it-is, health management (object) neglect must not.

    This uses an い-adjective. It concedes that being busy is a valid fact, but emphasizes that it isn't an excuse to ignore health.

Common Mistakes

  • Using とは言え in very casual conversation.

    「明日、暇？」「暇とは言え、宿題があるよ。」
    「明日、暇？」「暇だけど、宿題があるよ。」

    とは言え is quite formal and 'bookish.' Using it with friends in a casual chat about homework sounds unnaturally stiff. Use けど or だけど instead.

  • Confusing とは言え with といっても to correct a small detail.

    料理ができるとは言え、卵焼きだけです。
    料理ができるといっても、卵焼きだけです。

    といっても is better for limiting the scope of a previous statement (e.g., 'I can cook, but only X'). とは言え is better for contrasting a major fact with a surprising reality.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

〜とは言えLevel 4Although/that Said

Learn This First

〜とは言え is a formal concession pattern meaning 'although' or 'that said'. It is built by combining the quotation particle 'と', the contrastive particle 'は', and the verb '言う' (to say) in a classical-style conditional form. To understand it, learners need to grasp how quotation and contrast work together to acknowledge a fact before introducing a counter-point.

Words in This Pattern

とは言え