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

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated September 14, 2024

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

“〜to wa iu mono no”: That Said, But 〜

「(plain form / noun だ) ＋ とはいうものの」 means “that said, although 〜, (yet) in reality…” — you grant the first clause as true, then pivot to a contrary reality that falls short of it. 「春だとはいうものの、まだ寒い」 (it may be spring, but it's still cold), 「やると決めたとはいうものの、不安は残る」 (I decided to do it — even so, the unease lingers). It first affirms the statement or decision, then turns to “but things aren't as that would suggest.” Nouns and な-adjectives add だ (便利だとはいうものの), and it can also open a sentence as a standalone connective.

🧠 Core nuance: acknowledging the prior statement, but reality has a gap

The move is concede, then qualify: you accept that the first part holds — it is spring, you did decide, it is convenient — and then flag that reality doesn't live up to it (still cold, unease remains, yet too expensive). The flavour is “true in word or in principle, but the facts on the ground are another matter.” Attachment is the plain form, with だ added after nouns and な-adjectives (学生だとはいうものの). It can also stand at the head of a sentence as a connective (とはいうものの、現実は厳しい). It sits in the same family as といっても and とはいえ (all “that said”), leaning a little written.

📌 How to Connect

💬 Example Sentences

• もう春だとはいうものの、朝晩はまだ寒い。(It may already be spring, but mornings and evenings are still cold.) — gap
• やると決めたとはいうものの、やはり不安は残る。(Although I decided to do it, unease still remains.) — pivot
• 便利だとはいうものの、値段が高すぎる。(Although it's convenient, the price is too high.) — な-adj ＋ だ
• 試験に受かったとはいうものの、まだ油断はできない。(Although I passed the exam, I can't let my guard down yet.) — limit
• 引き受けたとはいうものの、正直自信はない。(Although I took it on, honestly I have no confidence.) — contrast

🔄 Compare: とはいうものの vs とはいえ vs といっても vs ものの

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. Nouns / な-adj add だ — 便利だとはいうものの (✗ 便利とはいうものの).
2. Concessive — reality falls short — the second clause brings a contrary reality (春だ→まだ寒い).
3. Can open a sentence — とはいうものの also works as a standalone connective at the head.
4. Close to とはいえ — とはいえ is the more compact version; the meaning is nearly the same.

💡 Nuance & When to Use

とはいうものの is for conceding a point and then undercutting it — acknowledging the calendar says spring while noting it's still cold, or admitting you took a job on while confessing you're not confident. It's a measured, slightly written connective, at home in essays and thoughtful speech where you want to grant something before raising a “but.” Use its tighter cousin とはいえ, or the more conversational といっても, when you want the same concessive turn in a lighter register. All of them say, in effect, “that's true, and yet…”

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• High-frequency N1: plain form ＋ とはいうものの = “that said, but…” (grant the first clause; the second brings a contrary reality — concessive).
• Attachment: nouns / な-adj add だ (便利だとはいうものの); can also open a sentence.
• Near-synonyms: とはいうものの ≒ とはいえ ≒ といっても ≒ ものの (all concessive “that said”); somewhat written.

🖊️ 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.