“〜to wa iu mono no”: That Said, But 〜 [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 28, 2026

「春だとはいうものの、まだ寒い」 — you grant the first point, then reality falls short.

「便利だとはいうものの、問題も多い」 — that said, but…

To grant that something is true, yet add the qualification “but in reality…” — 「AI は便利だ。とはいうものの、頼りすぎるのは危険だ (AI is convenient. That said, over-relying on it is dangerous).」 「〜とはいうものの／〜とは言うものの」 = that said, though it's said ～, but…. It first grants the first-half's fact, then the latter raises a qualification or rebuttal. This guide clarifies its core of “grant then qualify,” separating it from the near-synonymous 「とはいえ」 and 「ものの.」

Core: that said, though ～, but… (grant the first-half, then qualify／rebut)

「plain form／noun（だ）＋ とはいうものの」 means “that said, though it's said ～, but…” — first granting the first-half's fact (though ～), then the latter raising a qualification, rebuttal, or that reality falls short:

• 春になったとはいうものの、まだ肌寒い日が続く (though it's become spring, chilly days still continue).
• ダイエット中だとはいうものの、甘い物はやめられない (though I'm on a diet, I can't give up sweets).
• 給料は上がった。とはいうものの、物価も上がっている (my salary rose. That said, prices are rising too).

Feel: the core is “first grant the first-half (though ～, indeed ～), yet the latter raises a qualification or rebuttal (but in reality…)” — a written concessive turn, equal to 「とはいえ.」 It can go mid-sentence (〜とはいうものの、…) or at the sentence head (とはいうものの、…) picking up prior text then turning. In English: “that said, though ～, but…, despite ～ yet….”

How it attaches

Precedes a plain form or noun（だ）. It can also go at the sentence head 「とはいうものの、…」 picking up prior text then turning. It's nearly synonymous with 「とはいえ」 (see 〈とはいえ〉). The Chinese “话雖如此” corresponds to sentence-head 「とはいうものの.」

Example sentences

• 一人暮らしは自由だとはいうものの、寂しさを感じることもある。(Living alone is free, that said, one sometimes feels lonely.)
• 計画は完璧だった。とはいうものの、実行段階で問題が続出した。(The plan was perfect. That said, problems piled up at the execution stage.)
• 慣れてきたとはいうものの、まだミスが多い。(Though I've gotten used to it, I still make many mistakes.)
• 経験を積んだとはいうものの、油断は禁物だ。(Though I've built experience, carelessness is forbidden.)
• 便利な世の中になったとはいうものの、失われたものもある。(Though the world's become convenient, some things have been lost.)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① The core is ‘first grant the first-half (though ～), then the latter raises a qualification／rebuttal.' This is 「とはいうものの」's core feel. It first grants the first-half's fact (though ～, indeed ～ is true), then the latter raises a qualification, rebuttal, or that reality falls short of what the first-half implies: 便利だとはいうものの、欠点もある (though convenient, there are drawbacks too — granting “convenient,” then adding the qualification “but there are drawbacks”). Its point is the turn “granted, but in reality….” Test: to first grant something, then add the qualification／rebuttal “but in reality…” → とはいうものの.

② Attachment: plain form／noun ＋ とはいうものの; can go at the sentence head picking up prior text. In attachment, 「とはいうものの」 precedes a plain form (便利だとはいうものの, 慣れたとはいうものの) or noun（だ） (休日だとはいうものの). Also, it can go alone at the sentence head 「とはいうものの、…,」 picking up already-stated content then turning (= that said): AI は便利だ。とはいうものの、過信は禁物だ (AI is convenient. That said, over-trust is forbidden). Test: plain form／noun ＋ とはいうものの; or sentence-head 「とはいうものの、…」 (picking up prior text).

③ Separate it from 「とはいえ」 — the two are nearly synonymous, mostly interchangeable; とはいうものの is longer, a touch more colloquial. This is the pair most needing distinction. 「〜とはいうものの」 and 「〜とはいえ」 mean nearly the same (both the concessive turn “though ～ but, that said”), mostly interchangeable (便利だとはいうものの ≒ 便利だとはいえ). The subtle difference: 「とはいうものの」 is longer, a touch more colloquial, a bit softer, more often for ‘picking up prior text' then turning (at the head 「とはいうものの、…」); 「とはいえ」 is shorter, a touch more written, more concise and forceful (see 〈とはいえ〉). Both are “grant a premise then turn,” the difference small. Test: both are fine, mostly interchangeable; for a touch more colloquial, softer, picking up prior text → とはいうものの; for a touch more written, concise and forceful → とはいえ (see 〈とはいえ〉).

④ Separate it from 「ものの」 — とはいうものの is ‘that said (granting a statement／premise),' ものの is ‘though (one did／it's) ～ but.' Both contain 「ものの,」 but differ in use. 「〜とはいうものの」 = that said, though ～ but (granting a premise／statement, then turning): 便利だとはいうものの、問題もある (though convenient, there are problems). It's “とはいう (though so said) ＋ ものの (but),” granting a “statement／premise” then turning. 「〜ものの」 = though ～ but (granting an established fact／act, then turning, see 〈ものの〉): 買ったものの、一度も使っていない (though I bought it, I've never used it — granting the established fact “bought,” then turning), 努力したものの、結果は出なかった (though I made effort, no result came). It precedes a verb た-form／plain form, granting an “established fact／act” then turning. Difference: 「とはいうものの」 = that said (granting a statement／premise, = とはいえ); 「ものの」 = though (one did／it's) ～ but (granting an established fact／act, see 〈ものの〉). Test: to first grant a “statement／premise” then turn (that said) → とはいうものの; to first grant an “established fact／act” then turn (though one did ～ yet) → ものの (see 〈ものの〉).

🔄 Compare: とはいうものの／とはいえ／ものの／確かに〜が

Easy mix-ups: 「〜とはいうものの」 = that said, though ～ but (granting a statement／premise, then raising a qualification／rebuttal; a touch colloquial, softer, often at the head picking up prior text; ≒ とはいえ); 「〜とはいえ」 = that said (grant a premise then qualify, a touch written, concise, see 〈とはいえ〉); 「〜ものの」 = though (one did／it's) ～ but (granting an established fact／act then turning, see 〈ものの〉); 「確かに〜が」 = true ～, but… (the paired concede-then-turn argument). For “that said” use とはいうものの／とはいえ; for “though one did ～ yet” use ものの.

💡 The one thing to remember

「〜とはいうものの」 = that said, though ～ but… — three points: ① the core is “first grant the first-half (though ～), then the latter raises a qualification／rebuttal”; ② attachment is plain form／noun ＋ とはいうものの, and it can go at the head picking up prior text (that said); ③ separate it from 「とはいえ (nearly synonymous, a touch written, see 〈とはいえ〉)」「ものの (though one did ～ yet, see 〈ものの〉)」. This concession and the previous batch's 「とはいえ」 are twins — nearly the same meaning, mostly interchangeable; 「とはいうものの」 is longer, a touch more colloquial, more often picking up prior text (at the head), 「とはいえ」 a touch more written, concise and forceful. To grant something, then add the qualification “but in reality…,” both are handy; for everyday “that said,” 「とはいうものの」 is also natural.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: What's the difference between 「とはいうものの」 and 「とはいえ」? Interchangeable?

The two mean nearly the same (both the concessive turn “though ～ but, that said”), mostly interchangeable, with a subtle difference. 「〜とはいうものの」 = that said, though ～ but (granting a premise then turning): it first grants a statement／premise, then raises a qualification or rebuttal: 便利だとはいうものの、問題もある (though convenient, there are problems). It's longer, a touch more colloquial, softer, and more often for ‘picking up prior text' then turning (alone at the head 「とはいうものの、…」): AI は便利だ。とはいうものの、過信は禁物だ. 「〜とはいえ」 = that said (grant a premise then qualify, see 〈とはいえ〉): it means nearly the same as 「とはいうものの,」 but is shorter, a touch more written, concise and forceful: 春とはいえ、まだ寒い (though it's spring, still cold). The difference (subtle): 「とはいうものの」 longer, a touch colloquial, softer, more often picking up prior text; 「とはいえ」 shorter, a touch written, concise and forceful (see 〈とはいえ〉). They're nearly synonymous “twins,” mostly freely interchangeable (便利だとはいうものの ≒ 便利だとはいえ). Test: both are fine; for a touch more colloquial, softer, picking up prior text (that said) → とはいうものの; for a touch more written, concise and forceful → とはいえ. No need to fret — mostly interchangeable.

Q: What's the difference between 「とはいうものの」 and 「ものの」? Both have 「ものの」?

The difference is ‘whether what's granted is a ‘statement／premise' or an ‘established fact／act.' 「〜とはいうものの」 = that said, though ～ but (granting a statement／premise, then turning): it's the whole of “とはいう (though so said, though it's said to be ～) ＋ ものの (but),” first granting a “statement, premise, what people think,” then turning to raise a qualification: 便利だとはいうものの、欠点もある (though convenient, there are drawbacks — granting the statement／evaluation “convenient,” then turning), プロだとはいうものの、完璧ではない (though a pro, not perfect). It grants a “(verbal／nominal) statement, evaluation.” 「〜ものの」 = though (one did／it's) ～ but (granting an established fact／act, then turning, see 〈ものの〉): it precedes a verb た-form／plain form, granting an “already-happened fact, a done act,” then turning: 買ったものの、使っていない (though I bought it, I haven't used it — granting the established act-fact “bought”), 参加したものの、楽しめなかった (though I participated, I couldn't enjoy it). It grants an “established fact, an actually-done act.” Difference: 「とはいうものの」 = granting a ‘statement／premise／evaluation' then turning (≒ とはいえ, that said); 「ものの」 = granting an ‘established fact／act' then turning (though one did ～ yet, see 〈ものの〉). Test: to first grant a “statement, people's view, nominal premise” then turn (that said) → とはいうものの; to first grant an “already-done／already-being fact” then turn (though one did ～ yet) → ものの. So “though convenient (but…)” (granting an evaluation) uses 「とはいうものの,」 “though I bought it (yet haven't used it)” (granting an established act) uses 「買ったものの.」

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「やると決めた___、不安は残る。」(that said)

(A) とはいうものの　(B) からには　(C) おかげで　(D) ばかりに

Q2. 「とはいうものの」の働きは?

(A) Accepts the first clause, the second presents a contrasting fact (concessive)

(B) Cause and effect

(C) Parallel

(D) Command

Q3. 「春だとはいうものの寒い」の意味は?

(A) Though it's said to be spring, it's still very cold

(B) Spring is warm

(C) It's not spring

(D) Cold because it's spring

Q4. 「とはいうものの」の語感は?

(A) That said (concessive)

(B) Because ~, so

(C) For the sake of ~

(D) Along with ~

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 便利だとはいうものの、高い。　(B) 便利とはいうものの(な形は だ)。

(C) とはいうものの行く(前句なし)。　(D) とはいうもののを食べる。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) とはいうものの ── that said, anxiety remains.

2. (A) ── accepts the first clause, the second brings a gap (concessive).

3. (A) ── though it's spring, it's still cold.

4. (A) ── that said (concessive).

5. (A) ── 「便利だとはいうものの、高い」 is correct.