〜と雖も

Even Though

Level 6Sounds Like toiedomo (iedomo)

〜と雖も (といえども) is a formal, literary way to say 'even though' or 'despite.' It is used when you want to emphasize that even in an extreme or significant case, the following statement still holds true.

How It Works

1. Meaning and Usage
〜と雖も (といえども) is used to introduce a concession. It translates to 'Even though,' 'Even if,' or 'Despite the fact that.' It often implies that the preceding noun or clause represents a high standard or an extreme example that one might expect to be an exception, yet it is not.

2. Grammatical Structure
It attaches to the plain form of verbs and adjectives, or directly to nouns:

  • Nouns: [Noun] + といえども (e.g., 子供といえども)
  • Verbs: [Plain Form] + といえども (e.g., 行くといえども)
  • い-Adjectives: [Plain Form] + といえども (e.g., 忙しいといえども)
  • な-Adjectives: [Noun/Adj-na] + (だ/である) + といえども

3. Nuance and Register
This is a Level 6 (Advanced) pattern. It is rarely used in spoken Japanese unless in a very formal speech or lecture. You will primarily encounter it in:

  • Legal documents and formal contracts
  • Academic writing and editorials
  • High-level literature

It is often paired with adverbs like たとえ (even if) or いかに (no matter how) to add further emphasis.

Examples (4)

  1. たとえ国王と雖も、法の裁きを免れることはできない。

    Even a king cannot escape the judgment of the law.

    Word by Word: Even king though, law's judgment escape thing cannot.

    Here, 'king' is used as the ultimate example of power, yet even they are subject to the law.

  2. いかに多忙と雖も、健康管理を怠ってはならない。

    No matter how busy you are, you must not neglect your health.

    Word by Word: No matter how busy though, health management neglect must not.

    The adverb いかに (no matter how) strengthens the concession of being busy.

  3. プロの棋士と雖も、時には初歩的なミスを犯すことがある。

    Even a professional Shogi player sometimes makes rudimentary mistakes.

    Word by Word: Professional Shogi player though, sometimes rudimentary mistakes commit thing exists.

    This emphasizes that even experts (the high standard) are not immune to simple errors.

  4. 未成年といえども、自分の行動には責任を持たなければならない。

    Even though they are minors, they must take responsibility for their own actions.

    Word by Word: Minor though, own actions responsibility must hold.

    This uses the pattern with a noun to show that age does not excuse responsibility.

Common Mistakes

  • Using it in casual conversation.

    今日は休みといえども、家で勉強するよ。
    今日は休みだけど、家で勉強するよ。

    Using といえども with friends sounds unnaturally stiff or arrogant. Use けど or のに for daily life.

  • Using it as a sentence-starting conjunction.

    といえども、彼は来なかった。
    しかし、彼は来なかった。

    といえども must follow a clause or noun; it cannot stand alone at the start of a sentence like 'However' or 'Nevertheless'.

How It Connects

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

〜と雖もLevel 6Even Though

Learn This First

〜と雖も (いえども) is a highly formal, literary concession pattern. It is derived from the classical verb 'iu' (to say) combined with the conditional 'to' and the particle 'mo'. To understand it, learners need a strong grasp of how 'to' and 'mo' combine to create 'even if' meanings, as well as familiarity with formal quotative structures.

Words in This Pattern

と雖も雖も