“〜to iedo (mo)・to iedo”: Although It's 〜, (Still)… (classical concession) [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

A classical written concessive expression

「専門家といえども、間違うことがある」 — even someone that accomplished can…

To weightily concede, 「その道の専門家といえども、間違うことはある」 (even an expert in that field can make mistakes) — 「〜と言えど（も）・〜といえど」 = even though one says ～, even ～ (can…), a classical, written concession. This guide covers attachment, the common 「いかに〜といえども,」 and separating it from the more colloquial 「といっても.」

Core: even one that (accomplished／high) can…

「noun／plain form ＋ といえど（も）」 means “even though one says ～, (still)…／even ～, still…” — using 「言えど（も）」 (= the literary form of 「言うけれど」) for concession:

• 王といえども、法には従わなければならない (even a king must obey the law).
• いかに困難といえども、乗り越えるしかない (however difficult, there's no choice but to overcome it).
• 子供のしたことといえど、許されるものではない (even though it was a child's doing, it can't be excused).

Feel: the core is “even one that (accomplished, so high in status／so strong in degree), still…” — preceding a noun or plain form, the second half taking an adversative “still ～, yet ～,” stressing “even that ～ does ～, (let alone…).” It often pairs with 「いかに〜といえども」 (however ～, still ～). It carries a heavy literary, weighty color, mostly for writing, speeches, maxims. It corresponds to “even though ～, still…／even ～, still…／though ～, yet….”

How it attaches

See it in context

• ベテランといえども、油断すれば失敗する。(Even a veteran will fail if careless.)
• どんな英雄といえども、一人では何もできない。(However great a hero, alone he can do nothing.)
• 完璧といえど、改善の余地はある。(Even if perfect, there's room for improvement.)
• 親しい仲といえども、礼儀は必要だ。(Even between close friends, courtesy is necessary.)
• いかに強大といえども、いつかは滅びる。(However mighty, someday it too will fall.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① The core is the weighty concession ‘even one that (accomplished), still….' 「〜といえど（も）」's core is “even though one says ～ (even that accomplished, that high in status), (still)…／yet…” — stressing the concession “even that ～ (does ～), (let alone the ordinary).” Preceding a noun or plain form, the second half takes an adversative (still ～, yet ～): 王といえども、間違う (even a king makes mistakes — even a king does), 専門家といえども、万能ではない (even an expert isn't omnipotent). It often carries the “even one that (strong in degree／high in status) ～, still…” flavor, and is a classical, weighty phrasing. It corresponds to “even though ～, still…／though ～, yet….” Test: to weightily concede “even ～, still…” (especially stressing “even that accomplished does ～”) → といえど（も）.

② Attach a noun／plain form; often with 「いかに〜といえども.」 Get the attachment right. Precedes a noun or plain form (王・専門家・困難だ・難しい) ＋ といえど（も）. It often pairs with 「いかに／どんなに〜といえども,」 for “however ～, still…”: いかに困難といえども (however difficult, still ～), どんなに強いといえども (however strong, still ～). 「といえども」 is more complete, weighty; 「といえど」 is shorter. Mnemonic: noun／plain form ＋ といえど（も） = even though ～, still…; いかに〜といえども = however ～, still….

③ Classical, written, weighty (rare in speech); division of labor with 「といっても.」 「といえど（も）」 carries a heavy classical, literary, weighty color, mostly for writing, speeches, maxims, hardly used in everyday speech (speech would say 「〜でも」). It differs from 「といっても」: 「〜といえど（も）」 = even though ～, still… (a classical, weighty concession, stressing “even that accomplished, still…”): 専門家といえども、間違う. 「〜といっても」 = although one says ～, actually it's not that ～ (concede the first part's literal wording, but lower the inflated impression, more colloquial, see 〈といっても〉): 社長といっても、社員は3人だ (I say I'm the president, but there are only 3 employees). Difference: 「といえど（も）」 is “even ～, still…” (a classical, weighty concession); 「といっても」 is “concede A, but lower A's impression” (more colloquial, see 〈といっても〉). Test: to weightily concede “even ～, still…” → といえど（も）; to “concede A but lower the impression” → といっても. (Also, 「であれ」 means “no matter who／what ～,” with a question word, see 〈であれ〉.)

🔄 Compare: といえど（も）／といっても／とはいえ／であれ

💡 How to remember this

「〜と言えど（も）・〜といえど」 = even though ～, still…／even ～, still… — three points: ① the core is the weighty concession “even one that (accomplished, high in status), still…” (王といえども法に従う); ② attach a noun／plain form, often with 「いかに〜といえども」 (however ～, still…); ③ classical, written, weighty (rare in speech); division of labor with 「といっても (concede A but lower the impression, more colloquial, see 〈といっても〉).」 This pattern carries a “maxim, weighty declaration” weight — 「専門家といえども万能ではない (even an expert isn't omnipotent)」 is both humble and forceful. To weightily concede “even ～, still…” in argument or a speech, 「〜といえど（も）」 has the most weight.

❓ FAQ

Q: What's the difference between 「専門家といえども」 and 「専門家といっても」?

The difference is ‘the weighty concession «even ～, still…»' vs ‘concede A but lower the impression,' and register. 「〜といえど（も）」 = even though ～, still…／even ～, still… (a classical, weighty concession): it stresses “even that (accomplished, so high in status／so able), still…／yet…,” with an “even that ～ does ～ (let alone…)” concession flavor, in a classical, weighty, written register: 専門家といえども、間違うことはある (even an expert can make mistakes — stressing “even an expert errs”), 王といえども、法を超えられない (even a king can't rise above the law). Its second half mostly takes an adversative (still ～, yet ～), and it's used in weighty writing, speeches. 「〜といっても」 = although one says ～, actually it's not that ～ (concede A's literal wording, lower the inflated impression, more colloquial): it's “concede the preceding statement, but add ‘actually it's not that ～' to pull the overrated impression back,” more colloquial (see 〈といっても〉): 専門家といっても、この分野は専門外だ (I say he's an expert, but this field isn't his specialty — concede “expert,” add “not expert here”), 社長といっても、小さな会社だ (I say president, but a small company). Difference: 「といえど（も）」 = «even ～, still…» (a weighty concession, stressing «even that accomplished does ～,» written); 「といっても」 = «although ～ but actually not that ～» (concede A but lower the impression, more colloquial). Test: to weightily concede “even ～, still…” (even that accomplished does ～) → といえど（も）; to “concede A (yes you could say it) but add the reality to lower the impression” → といっても (see 〈といっても〉). E.g. 「ベテランといえどもミスをする (even a veteran errs — a weighty concession)」 uses といえども; 「ベテランといっても、まだ2年目だ (I say veteran, but it's only their 2nd year — lowering the impression)」 uses といっても.

Q: What's the difference between 「といえど」 and 「といえども」?

Exactly the same meaning (both “even though ～, still…”), the difference is only the presence of 「も」 and the weightiness. The two are long and short forms of one expression: 「〜といえども」 (with も) = more complete, weighty, formal: adding 「も」 (an emphatic particle) makes it feel more weighty, substantial, resonant, and it's the most standard, common form: 王といえども法に従う (even a king obeys the law — weighty), いかに強大といえども滅びる (however mighty, it falls). It's mostly for formal writing, speeches, maxims. 「〜といえど」 (without も) = shorter, slightly lighter: dropping 「も」 makes it feel shorter, a touch lighter, but still a written, literary phrasing: 子供のしたことといえど、許されない (even though it was a child's doing, it's not excused). It's slightly more concise than 「といえども,」 a touch lighter in tone, but the same meaning. Difference: 「といえども」 more complete, weighty (the standard form, も for emphasis); 「といえど」 shorter, slightly lighter (も dropped), the two same in meaning, interchangeable. Test: for more weight, resonance → といえども (with も); for something shorter → といえど (without も). In practice 「といえども」 is more common and standard — 「といえども」 is fine in general. (In kanji it can be written 「と言えども,」 but the kana 「といえども」 is mostly used.)

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「一流の選手___、ミスをすることがある。」(even a top-class player has moments of error)

(A) と言えども　(B) と言って　(C) と思えば　(D) どころか

Q2. 「といえども」と語感が最も近いものはどれか？

(A) とはいえ　(B) からこそ　(C) とともに　(D) において

Q3. 「プロといえど、限界はある。」What does this sentence mean?

(A) Even a professional has limits

(B) Because they're a professional, they have no limits

(C) Only professionals have limits

(D) If you're not a professional, you have no limits

Q4. 「〈〉といえども」の語感として最も適切なものは？

(A) A classical/written concession, 「even though ~ (but the second clause is a limit or counterexample)」

(B) Indicates cause/reason

(C) Indicates simple parallel

(D) Indicates chronological order

Q5. 「といえども」の使い方として最も自然な文は？

(A) 子供といえども、約束は守るべきだ。　(B) 子供といえどもので、守る。

(C) といえども子供、約束を守る。　(D) 子供をといえども約束。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) と言えども ── 「一流の選手と言えども」 = even though a top athlete (still 〈〉).

2. (A) とはいえ ── both are concessive 'though 〈〉, but'; といえども is more classical and written.

3. (A) Even a professional has limits ── といえど = concession.

4. (A) ── 「といえども」 is a classical written concessive expression.

5. (A) ── 「noun＋といえども＋latter clause (limit/counterexample)」; the other options have incorrect connection or word order.