Structure
Verb + といえども
Noun + といえども
[な]Adjective + (だ) + といえども
[い]Adjective + といえども
Details
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Formal
使用域
硬い
Rare Kanji
雖も
About といえども
といえども is a combination of the case-marking particle と, the hypothetical form of 言う, 言え, and the conjunction particle ども, which is used in much the same way as けれども, or ても. Due to this, despite the more literal translation of 'even if one were to say (A)', it is usually translated simply as 'even if (A)', or 'although (A)'.
といえども will be seen following nouns, い-Adjectives, or verbs in any of their standard form.
といえども will be seen following nouns, い-Adjectives, or verbs in any of their standard form.
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いくらお金に困っているといえども、闇金には絶対手を出さないよ。Even if I was really troubled about money, there is no way I would turn to a loan shark.
- 前は一回で成功したといえども、毎回一回で成功できる訳ではない。Even though we were able to succeed before on our first try, that doesn't mean that we can succeed in one try every time.
- 彼女がどれだけ優しいといえども、そんなことばかりやってたら別れられるぞ。Even though she is super nice, if you keep doing such things she is going to break up with you.
- たとえ犯罪者といえども、動物みたいに扱ってはいけない。Even if they are criminals, you must not treat them like animals.
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運転が上手だといえども、シートベルトは必ず着用しなくてはならない。Even if you are good at driving, you must wear a seatbelt.
- いくら有名だといえども、なんでも好き勝手やっていいと言うことではない。Even if you are famous, it doesn't mean that you can just do whatever you wish.
Fun Fact
Although very rarely used, sometimes いえども is seen as 雖も. In these cases the kanji 雖, which means 'however', is simply paired with も. This creates a slight difference between 'however even (A)', and the more modern 'even if one were to say (A)'. Despite this, the meanings are used interchangeably in modern times.Examples
手術中は一瞬といえど気が抜けない。
During an operation you cannot lose focus, not even for a second.
This can be used to put more emphasis on negation, often as 「1 + counter」 meaning 'not even one ...'.
弁護のためといえども、暴漢を撃つべきではないという意見もある。
There are also opinions that one should not shoot a hoodlum, even in self-defense.
不況下で損失が出ているといえども、我が社は遅滞無く給与を支払う。
Even when taking losses during a recession our company pays salaries without delay.
たとえ囚人といえどもときどき刑務所を出ることができる。
Even a prisoner can leave prison from time to time.
ヒジカタが恐るべしといえども、スギモトの敵ではない。
Even though Hijikata is incredible, he is no match for Sugimoto.
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Breakdown and examples
JapaneseTest4You
「だといえども」= formal/fancy 言っても
Japanese StackExchange
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