〜とはいえ
tohaie
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
though …; that said …; admittedly …
Xとはいえ admits that X is true and then adds a reservation: 春とはいえ、朝晩はまだ冷える "it is spring, but mornings are still cold". It can also start a sentence as a conjunction meaning "that said". It is the formal relative of といっても / けれども.
Both registers, leaning formal; common in essays, news commentary and careful speech. Sentence-initial とはいえ is frequent in writing.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Noun / plain form + とはいえSentence-initial とはいえ、…いくら + 〜とはいえ
Visual diagram
| Aspect | form | tone | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜とはいえ | admits X, adds reservation | formal, measured | 春とはいえ、まだ寒い |
| 〜といっても | corrects an impression | spoken | 春といっても、まだ寒い |
| 〜といえども | solemn concession, general truths | literary | 専門家といえども間違える |
| 〜ものの | although, expectation unmet | written | 春になったものの、まだ寒い |
Natural examples
春とはいえ、朝晩はまだ冷える。
はるとはいえ、あさばんはまだひえる。
It is spring, but mornings and evenings are still chilly.
A fact (spring) with a reservation (still cold).
いくら忙しいとはいえ、連絡ぐらいはできたはずだ。
いくらいそがしいとはいえ、れんらくぐらいはできたはずだ。
Busy as you were, you could at least have got in touch.
いくら + とはいえ: mild criticism.
とはいえ、計画を中止するわけにはいかない。
とはいえ、けいかくをちゅうしするわけにはいかない。
That said, we cannot call off the plan.
Sentence-initial conjunction: that said.
合格したとはいえ、ぎりぎりの点数だったので喜べない。
ごうかくしたとはいえ、ぎりぎりのてんすうだったのでよろこべない。
I passed, but only barely, so I can't really celebrate.
Clause + とはいえ.
仕事とはいえ、休日に呼び出されるのはつらい。
しごととはいえ、きゅうじつによびだされるのはつらい。
Even if it's work, being called in on a day off is hard.
Noun + とはいえ.
Similar grammar and the difference
More solemn; used for general truths with いかに / たとえ. Compare side by side
Spoken; corrects an overestimate ("I say X, but only a little"). Compare side by side
"Although" with an unfulfilled expectation; cannot start a sentence. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 春とはいえ、暖かい。
- ✓
- 春とはいえ、まだ寒い。
- Why
- The second clause must contradict what X would lead you to expect.
- ✗
- 春だとはいえば
- ✓
- 春とはいえ
- Why
- The fixed form is とはいえ; とはいえば changes it into a conditional.
- ✗
- とはいえ、で計画は中止しない。
- ✓
- とはいえ、計画は中止しない。
- Why
- As a conjunction it stands alone at the start of the sentence.
Frequent adverbs: いくら, まだ, さすがに. Sentence-initial とはいえ is a standard essay connector like しかし. Softer than でも and more formal than けど.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- A fact + blank + a reservation (まだ / さすがに) → とはいえ.
- If the sentence begins with the blank followed by a comma, とはいえ is likely; ものの cannot start a sentence.
- といえども is the literary distractor with いかに / たとえ; とはいえ is the everyday-formal choice.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜とはいえ mean?
though …; that said …; admittedly …. Xとはいえ admits that X is true and then adds a reservation: 春とはいえ、朝晩はまだ冷える "it is spring, but mornings are still cold". It can also start a sentence as a conjunction meaning "that said". It is the formal relative of といっても / けれども.
How do you form 〜とはいえ?
Noun / plain form + とはいえ / Sentence-initial とはいえ、… / いくら + 〜とはいえ. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜とはいえ used?
Both registers, leaning formal; common in essays, news commentary and careful speech. Sentence-initial とはいえ is frequent in writing.
What is the difference between 〜とはいえ and 〜といえども?
More solemn; used for general truths with いかに / たとえ.
What is the difference between 〜とはいえ and 〜といっても?
Spoken; corrects an overestimate ("I say X, but only a little").
What is a common mistake with 〜とはいえ?
Wrong: 春とはいえ、暖かい。 Right: 春とはいえ、まだ寒い。 The second clause must contradict what X would lead you to expect.
Quick check
春（ ）、朝晩はまだコートが必要だ。