なんといっても

な

ん

と

い

っ

て

も

JLPTN1

Meanings

expression, adverb

after all; no matter what anyone says; definitely

usually written using kana alone

Used to emphasize that something is true or the best regardless of other opinions or circumstances. Often translates as 'after all', 'when all is said and done', or 'undeniably'.

何なんと言いっても、健けん康こうが一いち番ばん大たい切せつだ。
After all, health is the most important thing.
この店みせのラーメンは何なんと言いってもスープが絶ぜっ品ぴんだ。
When it comes to this shop's ramen, the soup is undeniably superb.

Grammar

何なにより・何なんといってもmore than anything; above allN2

Kanji

何what
言say, word

Related words

やはりN4
やはり also means 'after all' or 'as expected', but 何と言っても adds a stronger sense of 'no matter what anyone says' or 'undeniably'.
結けっ局きょくN3
結局 focuses on the final outcome ('in the end'), while 何と言っても emphasizes the speaker's firm conviction regardless of others' opinions.

Built from

何なん+といっても

Written forms

何なんと言いっても
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling; widely used in formal and informal writing.
何なんといっても
Variant with hiragana と instead of kanji 言; slightly less common but still natural.
なんと言いっても
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; often used in casual writing or when emphasizing the reading.

Etymology

A fixed expression combining 何 (what), と (quotative particle), 言って (te-form of 言う 'to say'), and も (even). Literally 'even if one says what', it developed into an adverbial phrase meaning 'no matter what one says' or 'after all'.