～とはいえ

How to form it

• Verb (plain form) + とはいえ
• い-adjective + とはいえ
• な-adjective stem + (だ) + とはいえ
• Noun + (だ) + とはいえ

Register: Written or formal speech

Explanation

Grants the truth of a statement or label, then adds a qualification that the label alone would not lead you to expect. It can also open a sentence on its own as a connector.

Often follows a label or an accepted fact (spring, a professional, a holiday) and points out where reality does not fit it fully.

Examples

1. 春とはいえ、まだ朝晩は寒い。

   はるとはいえ、まだあさばんはさむい。

   It may be spring, but the mornings and evenings are still cold.

2. 彼は有名な作家とはいえ、生活は楽ではないらしい。

   かれはゆうめいなさっかとはいえ、せいかつはらくではないらしい。

   Although he is a famous writer, apparently his life is not easy.

3. 練習したとはいえ、本番ではやはり緊張した。

   れんしゅうしたとはいえ、ほんばんではやはりきんちょうした。

   Even though I had practised, I was still nervous at the real thing.

Compare with

• ～ものの: ものの usually follows something the speaker did or has; とはいえ qualifies a label or statement.
• ～にもかかわらず: にもかかわらず is for an event with an unexpected result and sounds more formal.

Common mistakes

• Using it when the second clause simply agrees with the first. It must qualify or limit it.