～といっても
Qualify a label that could give the wrong impression
You’ll be able to say that a description is technically true while narrowing what the listener should imagine.
魚が釣れたといっても、手のひらサイズの小さい魚です。
sakana ga tsureta to itte mo, tenohira saizu no chiisai sakana desu.
What do you think this sentence means?
Even though I caught a fish, it's just a palm-sized tiny fish.
Qualify or downplay an impression
～といっても qualifies a prior statement or label, conceding that it is technically true while preventing the listener from imagining something exaggerated ("although I said...", "even though it's called...").
家に庭があるといっても、とても小さいです。
ie ni niwa ga aru to itte mo, totemo chiisai desu.
I do have a garden, but it is really small.
休みといっても、一日だけです。
yasumi to itte mo, ichinichi dake desu.
I have a holiday, but it is only one day.
Attach といっても to words or plain forms
Attach といっても directly to nouns, adjectives, or plain verbs. Follow it with a clarifying detail that narrows the scope or describes a modest reality.
今週は旅行に行くといっても、隣の町に一泊するだけです。
konshuu wa ryokou ni iku to itte mo, tonari no machi ni ippaku suru dake desu.
Even though I said I'm going on a trip this week, it's just staying one night in the neighboring town.
英語が話せるといっても、簡単なあいさつぐらいです。
eigo ga hanaseru to itte mo, kantan na aisatsu gurai desu.
I can speak English, but only simple greetings.
社長といっても、社員が三人だけの小さな会社です。
shachou to itte mo, shain ga sannin dake no chiisana kaisha desu.
I may be the company president, but it’s a small company with only three employees.
「引っ越したといっても、同じマンションの上の階に移っただけだよ。」
“hikkoshita to itte mo, onaji manshon no ue no kai ni utsutta dake da yo.”
“I did move, but only to a higher floor in the same apartment building.”
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