connective N1 common writtenpolite
〜とは言うものの — having said that ~
〜とは言うものの ・ とはいうものの
Meaning
- having said that ~ / that said / although ~ — concedes the truth of what was just stated, then qualifies it with a reality that doesn't quite follow
Key sentence
春になったとは言うものの、まだ寒い日が続く。
Although spring has arrived, cold days still continue.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plain clause (verb / i-adj / na-adj + な or である / Noun + である) | [clause] + とは言うものの、[qualifying clause] | 便利だとは言うものの / 約束したとは言うものの |
When: Written/formal. Often opens a sentence as a connector: とは言うものの、… ('That said, …').
Examples
給料は上がった。とは言うものの、生活は楽にならない。
My salary went up. That said, life hasn't gotten any easier.
やると決めたとは言うものの、何から始めればいいか分からない。
Having decided to do it, I still don't know where to begin.
Easily confused with
とはいえ Nearly identical 'that said'; とはいえ is a touch more compact/formal and very common as a sentence opener, while とは言うものの leans slightly more explanatory ('though one says ~'). 〜ものの Both concede 'although'; ものの attaches directly to a clause within one sentence (約束したものの), while とは言うものの first re-quotes the prior statement with とは言う, often spanning from a previous sentence. 〜のに のに carries surprise or reproach about an unexpected result; とは言うものの is a calm, reasoned 'true, but in fact ~' with no emotional charge.
See 〜とは言うものの in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜とは言うものの the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.