What does ～とはいえ mean? Japanese grammar N1

Forming it

How to use it

Concedes that A is true, then says reality is not what A implies. Formal concessive conjunction.

• 「Aとはいえ、B」 = although it's said to be A, B. A is true, but B contradicts the EXPECTATION A creates: 「春とはいえ、朝晩はまだ寒い」.
• Attaches to the plain form; nouns and na-adjectives can drop 「だ」: 「簡単とはいえ」「学生とはいえ」.
• Can stand at the start of a sentence as a conjunction: 「とはいえ、無理はしないでください」. The longer form 「とはいうものの」 has the same meaning.

Examples

• 春(はる)とはいえ、朝晩(あさばん)はまだ寒(さむ)い。

  Although it is spring, mornings and evenings are still cold.

• 簡単(かんたん)とはいえ、準備(じゅんび)は必要(ひつよう)だ。

  Although it is simple, preparation is necessary.

Keep in mind

• Fixed expression 「とはいえ」 — not conjugated as 「とは言って」.
• Clause B must contradict the expectation, not just be additional info.

Common mistakes

• Wrong春(はる)とは言(い)って、まだ寒(さむ)い。

  Correct春(はる)とはいえ、まだ寒(さむ)い。

  The fixed literary phrase is とはいえ.

Exam tips

• 「とはいえ」 = although it's said to be A, in reality...; 「だ」 can be dropped after a noun or na-adjective.

Related patterns

• ～といっても
• ～ものの
• ～とはいうものの