Ways to say "although" beyond のに and けど
In conversation, "although" is mostly のに or けど. といっても and からといって are everyday too, and are the ones to start with; the rest belong mostly to writing and formal speech. All nine start from something true, and which one fits depends on what comes next.
| Form | What it says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| といっても | "I call it that, but": less than the word suggests | Conversation and writing |
| からといって | "Just because": the conclusion doesn't follow | Conversation and writing |
| にもかかわらず | "In spite of": something happened all the same | News, reports, speeches |
| ものの | "Although": things fall short of what you'd expect | Essays, news, reports |
| ながら（も） | "And yet": two things you wouldn't expect together | Writing; its set phrases everywhere |
| つつも | Someone knows better and does it anyway | Reports, essays, speeches |
| とはいえ | "True, but": the fact makes less difference than you'd expect | Essays, news; careful speech |
| とはいうものの | The same as とは | Essays, speeches; careful speech |
| といえども | "Even": a rule holds where you'd expect an exception | Editorials, speeches, rules |
といっても: less than it sounds
Full pageといってもN2
といっても follows a word that sounds like more than the truth, and what comes next says how little it amounts to. Often you are being modest. In conversation it is often っていっても.
I call it a hobby, but I only take photos about once a month.
I say I've got a part-time job, but it's only once a week.
I moved last month. Only to another apartment in the same building, mind you.
といっても、 also opens a sentence.
からといって: just because
Full pageからといってN2
からといって grants a reason and refuses the conclusion drawn from it. The sentence nearly always ends in a careful "not", such as とは限らない (not necessarily) or わけではない (that doesn't mean), or tells someone not to do something. In conversation it is often からって.
Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's good quality.
Don't take it out on other people just because you're tired.
I'm bad at English. That doesn't mean I don't have to study it.
だからといって opens a sentence.
といっても or からといって?
といっても is about a word, and からといって is about a reason.
It's called an intensive course, but classes are only twice a week.
"Intensive" sounds like more than the course is.
Just because it is an intensive course doesn't mean you can learn everything in a short time.
"Intensive" is accepted; the conclusion is refused.
Where it goes wrong
からといって is not "because". When the second half simply states the result, that is plain から.
Not said: 有名な
(Because the restaurant is famous, the food is good.)
有名な店だから、料理がおいしい.
といっても is not a plain "but". When something happened in spite of a fact, that is のに.
I have a temperature, but only a slight one.
The fever is real, but slight.
I went to work even though I had a temperature.
Something happened in spite of the fever.
にもかかわらず: in spite of
Full pageにもかかわらずN2
にもかかわらず is a formal のに: something happened in spite of the circumstances. のに carries surprise or a complaint; にもかかわらず states it as fact, and any praise, blame or thanks comes from what follows.
Despite the rain, a large crowd gathered.
Thank you all for coming today when you are so busy.
How a speech opens.
ものの: the written けど
Full pageもののN2
ものの grants a fact, then says where things fall short: something hasn't happened yet, isn't enough or can't be done. It is calm, with no complaint.
I've graduated from college, but I still haven't found a job.
Said to a friend.
I have graduated from college, but I have yet to find a job.
In an essay or a letter.
ながら（も）: and yet
Full pageながら（も）N2
ながら（も） says two things that don't go together, normally about the same person or thing. It mostly follows a state, such as knowing or being small; after an action, ながら is usually "while". With も it is always "although".
Our home is small, but it's a happy one.
He knew it was dangerous, and went on working all the same.
A sentence about two different people or things takes ものの or にもかかわらず. In conversation people say けど, or のに.
Set phrases with ながら
残念ながらunfortunately
Unfortunately, we cannot make a reservation for the dates you asked for.
勝手ながらwe are sorry, but
We are sorry, but we are temporarily closed today.
On a shop door.
我ながらif I say so myself
It came out well, if I say so myself.
つつも: knowing better, and yet
Full pageつつ・
つつも is a stiffer ながら（も）, after verbs only. The verb is mostly one of knowing or thinking: someone knows better and does it anyway. In conversation people mostly say ても or のに.
I know they are bad for me, but I can't give up sweet things.
In an essay.
I know they're bad for me, but I can't give up sweet things.
As you would say it.
とはいえ and とはいうものの: true, but
とはいえ is a stiffer といっても. It follows any fact, not only a word that sounds like more than the truth.
It may be spring, but it can still snow at the summit.
I didn't know, but even so, I am very sorry for my rudeness.
A set apology for giving offense without meaning to.
とはいうものの says the same, longer and more hesitant. Both also open a new sentence, "that said", which ものの alone can't.
Spring has come. That said, mornings and evenings are still quite cold.
In writing.
It may be spring now, but the mornings and evenings are still cold.
The same thought as you would say it.
I know I ought to exercise. Even so, I can never find the time.
In everyday talk, そうはいっても opens a sentence.
といえども: even
Full pageといえどもN1
といえども says that a rule holds even for the case you'd expect to escape it: "even a child", "even the president". It is stiff and written; people say でも: 子どもでも.
Even a child has to follow the rules.
とはいえ fits after the same noun as といえども, with a different point.
They may be an expert, but they can still get it wrong.
An expert, granted, but not always right.
Even an expert can get it wrong.
Anyone can be wrong, and that holds even for experts.
"Regardless of" and "even if": にかかわらず, にしても
にかかわらずN2
にもかかわらず without も is "regardless of": it follows a word that covers every case, such as the weather, good or bad.
The event will go ahead as planned, whatever the weather.
"Even if", "granted that": you grant a point and say it changes nothing.
However much of a hurry you were in, I wish you had said something.