〜とはいうものの (~to wa iu mono no) — they say ~, but / granted ~, but

'So they say, but…' — 「春とはいうものの、まだ寒い」(they call it spring, but it is still cold).

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

N N + とはいうものの

Verb V普通形 + とはいうものの

い-adj い-adj + とはいうものの

The calendar says spring, but outside it is still cold — 「春とはいうものの、まだ寒い」(they call it spring, but it is still cold).

「〜とはいうものの」= 'so they say, but' — the first part (a name, a saying, a fact) is granted, yet reality is not as expected.
What follows says 'there is still a problem / it is not as expected'.

「〜ものの」(買ったものの) concedes something you did or that happened; with a noun or い-adjective 「とはいうものの」is far more common, adding 'so they say'.
「〜とはいいながら」means much the same — it has its own page.

A request or invitation like 「〜てください」「〜ましょう」never follows.

春とはいうものの、朝晩はまだ寒い。

はるとはいうものの、あさばんはまださむい。

They call it spring, but mornings and evenings are still cold.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 春 = spring (noun) → attach 「とはいうものの」 directly to the N = "it's called spring, but" → then the reality: 朝晩はまだ寒い.

連休とはいうものの、コンビニのバイトは休めない。

れんきゅうとはいうものの、コンビニのバイトはやすめない。

They call it a long holiday, but I cannot take time off from my convenience-store job.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 連休 = a long holiday (noun) → it is an N, so 「とはいうものの」 ("it's called that, sure") → then what I don't get: 休めない.

日本語が話せるとはいうものの、電話で敬語を使うのはまだ苦手だ。

にほんごがはなせるとはいうものの、でんわでけいごをつかうのはまだにがてだ。

I can speak Japanese, granted, but using keigo on the phone is still hard for me.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 話せる = can speak → 「とはいうものの」 on the 普通形 = "I can speak it, but" → then what's still lacking: 敬語を使うのはまだ苦手だ.

Question: 1/3

「春＿、まだ寒い日が続いている。」— fill the blank.

💡 Hint: The 'so they say, but' that attaches straight to a noun.