Even though, be it even: 〜といえども
Noun・plain form + といえども
Noun・plain form + といえども: “even X”; the rule applies despite X's status (専門家といえども間違える). Written, solemn style; reinforced by たとえ, いかに.
In short
〜といえども: “even if it's, however much X may be”; a strong concession: even X, whom you might expect to be exempt from the rule, isn't (専門家といえども間違えることはある, “even an expert can make mistakes”). Written style, maxims, speeches. Emphatic variant: 一〜たりといえども.
- 専門家といえども、全てを知っているわけではない。せんもんかといえども、すべてをしっているわけではない。Even an expert doesn't know everything.
- 子どもといえども、法を犯せば責任を問われる。こどもといえども、ほうをおかせばせきにんをとわれる。Even a child must answer for it if they break the law.
- いかに優秀な選手といえども、プレッシャーとは無縁ではいられない。いかにゆうしゅうなせんしゅといえども、ぷれっしゃーとはむえんではいられない。However brilliant an athlete may be, none is immune to pressure.
The basics
といえども is a classical form of といっても: “even if one says X”. You name a category that seems protected or privileged (an expert, a king, a child, a big company), then assert that the rule applies all the same. It's the tone of maxims and principles: “no one is above…”.
The second part contradicts the expectation tied to X: you thought X would be the exception, and it isn't.
Even an expert can make mistakes.
- noun
- grammatical form
- verb
- 専門家といえども間違えることはある。せんもんかといえどもまちがえることはある。Even an expert can make mistakes.
- 王といえども、民の声を無視することはできない。おうといえども、たみのこえをむしすることはできない。Even a king cannot ignore the voice of the people.
How to form it
Most often Noun + といえども. It can also follow a clause in the plain form. It's readily reinforced with たとえ or いかに at the start. With 一 + counter, the form 〜たりといえども stresses the smallest unit.
| Form | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + といえども | even X | 専門家といえども |
| Plain form + といえども | even though (fact) | 勝ったといえども油断はできない |
| たとえ／いかに〜といえども | however… may be | いかに優秀といえども |
| 一 + counter + たりといえども | not even a single | 一円たりといえども |
- 初戦に勝ったといえども、油断はできない。しょせんにかったといえども、ゆだんはできない。We may have won the first match, but we mustn't let our guard down.
- 一円たりといえども、税金を無駄にしてはならない。いちえんたりといえども、ぜいきんをむだにしてはならない。Not a single yen of public money must be wasted.
といえども, でも, とはいえ or ともあろう?
でも (“even”) says the same thing neutrally: 子どもでもわかる. といえども is its solemn version, stressing X's status. とはいえ (next point) acknowledges a fact then qualifies it (“admittedly…, but”), a softer concession.
〜ともあろう者が expresses indignation: “someone of his standing, doing such a thing!”. といえども rather states a general principle, without necessarily reproaching anyone.
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜でも | even (neutral) | 子どもでもわかる |
| 〜といえども | even X, despite their status (solemn) | 専門家といえども間違える |
| 〜とはいえ | admittedly, but (qualifying) | 春とはいえ寒い |
| 〜ともあろう者が | indignation at one's rank | 教師ともあろう者が |
- こんな簡単な問題、子どもでもわかるよ。こんなかんたんなもんだい、こどもでもわかるよ。A problem this simple — even a child would get it.
- 警察官ともあろう者が、飲酒運転をするとは。けいさつかんともあろうものが、いんしゅうんてんをするとは。That a police officer, of all people, should drink and drive!
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that what follows contradicts the expectation: 「専門家といえども、詳しい」 makes no sense; you need “even an expert… makes mistakes / doesn't know everything”.
- Using it in everyday speech: there you simply say でも or といっても.
- Confusing it with とはいえ: といえども targets mainly a status or category, とはいえ concedes a fact before qualifying it.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N1 point is on the Kyūshū Line (Values and society) of the Shinkansen.