JLPT N1 grammar by function

JLPT N1 Although, despite, and against expectation

とはいえ and といえども are formal "although", and こそあれ and こそすれ concede one point to stress another. かと思いきや marks an expectation that turned out wrong, while を顧みず and をものともせずに mean acting despite risk or opposition. だろうに and ものを carry regret or pity, which learners often miss when reading them as a plain "but".

18 N1 grammar points in this group

とはいえ (towa ie): though; although; be that as it may; nonetheless

Use とはいえ when you acknowledge a preceding statement as true, but then present a contrasting fact, limitation, or reservation that the first statement doesn’t fully cancel out. It’s a formal, written-pattern way to say though; although; be that as it may; nonetheless.

忙しいとはいえ、休まないわけにはいかない。 — Even though you’re busy, you can’t just not rest.

といえども (to ie domo): even if; even though; despite

Use といえども when you want to say that even if (something) were the case, or even though (something) is true, the conclusion remains the same.

子供（こども）といえども、自分（じぶん）の意見（いけん）を言（い）う権利（けんり）がある。 — Even a child has the right to express their own opinion.

とて (tote): even; even if/though

Use とて when you want to say even or even if/though in a way that carries a sense of inevitability. The condition introduced by とて is granted as true, but the result remains — often negative or surprising.

何を言うとて、許されない。 — Even if you say something, you won’t be forgiven.

こそ「～が・けれど」 (koso ~ ga/keredo): but; although (emphasis)

Use こそ「～が・けれど」 when you want to emphasize that a certain condition or fact is true, but the result or next statement does not follow naturally from it.

努力こそしたが、結果は出なかった。 — I did make an effort, but I didn't get any results.

こそあれ (koso are): although; even though

Use こそあれ when you want to say “although there is ~, …”, “even though there may be ~, …”.

苦労こそあれ、この仕事には遣り甲斐がある。 — Although there is hardship, this job is rewarding.

こそすれ (koso sure): and; although; but

Use こそすれ when you want to admit that one thing occurs while forcefully denying the opposite or expected outcome. The pattern sets up a contrast: the first part is acknowledged, but the second part — often a negative consequence — is emphatically rejected.

驚きこそすれ、怒りはしません。 — I may be surprised, but I will not get angry.

ところを (tokoro o): although (it is a certain time/condition); even though normally

Use ところを when you want to express that someone does something (or something happens) that goes against the natural expectation of that specific time or condition.

お忙しいところを、恐れ入りますが、少々お時間をいただけますか。 — I’m sorry to bother you when you’re busy, but could I have a moment of your time?

だろうに (darou ni): (1) surely..., but ~; although... is likely, ~ (2) should have (regret); might / must have been

Use だろうに in two main situations:

彼なら出来るだろうに、なぜやらないんだろう。 — Surely he could do it, but why doesn't he?

ものを (mono o): if only; I wish; I'm sorry it's not actually (regret)

Use ものを when you want to express regret or frustration that something did not happen, or that someone failed to do something. It often carries the feeling of “if only …” or “I wish …” and can be gently reproachful, self-critical, or compassionate.

一言相談してくれればよかったものを。 — If only you had said something to me first.

甲斐もなく (kai mo naku): despite; even though

Use 甲斐もなく when an action or state that *should* have brought a positive outcome instead led to an undesired or opposite result. It marks the outcome as contrary to the effort or expectation—often with regret, frustration, or irony.

努力した甲斐もなく、試験に落ちてしまった。 — Despite all my efforts, I failed the exam.

に至っても (ni itattemo): even if; even though; although something reached the point

Use に至っても when you want to express that a situation has reached a significant extreme, and yet – against expectation or hope – a particular state or action continues.

生命の危機に至っても、彼は笑顔を絶やさなかった。 — Even when his life was in danger, he never stopped smiling.

かと思いきや (ka to omoikiya): contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but

Use かと思いきや when you want to set up an expectation and immediately contradict it. The speaker presents what they thought was going to happen (or what seemed likely), then reveals that the opposite occurred.

彼は遅刻するかと思いきや、一番早く来た。 — I thought he would be late, but he showed up first.

とは打って変わって / とは打って変わり (towa utte kawatte / to wa utte kawari): unlike; totally different; very different from

Use とは打って変わって (or the variant とは打って変わり) when you want to show that something is totally different or the complete opposite of what it was before, or of what you would have expected.

昨日とは打って変わって、今日は真夏のような暑さだ。 — Unlike yesterday, today is as hot as midsummer.

に引き換え (ni hikikae): compared to; in contrast to; unlike; while; whereas

Use に引き換え when you want to sharply contrast two things, especially when the second item is inferior or disappointing relative to the first.

姉に引き換え、妹は家事を全く手伝わない。 — Compared to my older sister, my younger sister doesn’t help with the housework at all.

をよそに (o yoso ni): despite; without regards to

Use をよそに when an action or state continues *in defiance of* or *completely ignoring* a tangible worry, advice, expectation, or public opinion. The ignored element is often something that, from the speaker’s perspective, should have influenced the person’s behaviour.

家族の心配をよそに、彼は会社を辞めて旅に出た。 — Despite his family’s worries, he quit his job and set off travelling.

を顧みず / も顧みず (o kaerimizu / mo kaerimizu): despite; without considering; not worrying about; regardless of

Use を顧みず / も顧みず when you want to express that someone acts while deliberately ignoring a risk, standard, consequence, or opposition that would normally hold them back.

消防士は危険を顧みず、燃える建物に飛び込んだ。 — The firefighter rushed into the burning building, disregarding the danger.

をものともせずに (o mono tomo sezuni): in defiance of; not losing to / afraid / worrying about

Use をものともせずに when you want to describe a person who confronts a serious obstacle—danger, hardship, criticism, bad weather—and acts without being overcome by it.

彼は周囲の批判をものともせずに、自分の信念を貫いた。 — He stuck to his convictions, undeterred by the criticism around him.

を押して / を押し切って (o oshite / o oshikitte): to overcome (opposition); to push past

Use を押して or を押し切って when someone pushes past an obstacle, ignores opposition, or acts in spite of hardship. The obstacle is usually a noun (e.g., opposition, illness, fatigue, objections).

反対を押し切って、新しい制度を導入した。 — They pushed through opposition and introduced the new system.

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