〜といえども (~to iedomo) — even (a ~) / even though

However high the position or special the case, the rule still applies — very stiff language of speeches, laws and news.

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

N （たとえ） + N + といえども

Verb / い-adj （いかに） + V普通形／い-adj + といえども

Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)

When to use it

Picture a news report about a minister who broke the rules, and a commentator says: 「大臣といえども、法律は守らなければならない」— even a minister must obey the law.
It is a stiff, old-fashioned word.

Meaning

「〜といえども」= 'this person or case is special, so you'd think there'd be an exception — but there isn't.'
What follows is usually a duty or a firm opinion: 〜なければならない・〜てはならない・〜べきだ・〜は難しい.
A famous saying: 「当たらずといえども遠からず」= not exactly right, but very close.

How to attach

Directly to a noun: 社長といえども — usually a person or position (社長・子供・プロ)
Plain form of verbs and い-adjectives: 忙しいといえども
It also works with imagined cases: 「たとえ／いかに／どんな〜といえども」(no matter what kind of ~)

Versus what you know

The previous point, 「〜とはいえ」, also means 'true, but even so', but 「といえども」is stiffer and more old-fashioned, and it works not only with real facts but also with imagined cases.
「とはいえ」cannot take 「たとえ」.

Watch out

In chat with friends it sounds far too heavy — there, just say 「〜でも」, like 「社長でも」.

Examples (उदाहरणहरू)

社長といえども、会社のルールは守らなければならない。

しゃちょうといえども、かいしゃのルールはまもらなければならない。

Even the company president must follow the company's rules.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 社長 = company president (a high position that might seem exempt) → 「といえども」 directly = even if it's the president → then the duty: ルールは守らなければならない.

たとえプロの通訳といえども、方言を全部理解するのは難しい。

たとえプロのつうやくといえども、ほうげんをぜんぶりかいするのはむずかしい。

Even a professional interpreter would find it hard to understand every dialect.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) たとえ = even if (starts a hypothetical) → プロの通訳 = a professional interpreter → 「といえども」 = even if it is → 方言 = local dialects → then a firm opinion: 全部理解するのは難しい.

いかに忙しいといえども、安全確認を怠ってはならない。

いかにいそがしいといえども、あんぜんかくにんをおこたってはならない。

However busy you may be, you must never neglect safety checks.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) いかに = however (much) → 忙しい = busy (い-adj, attached directly) → 「といえども」 = even if → 怠る = to neglect → then a strict rule: 〜てはならない = must not.

Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)

Question: 1/3

「どんなベテラン＿＿＿、ミスをすることはある。」— fill the blank.

💡 Hint: Does anything go between the noun and といえども?