Contrast & concession
29 phrasesHD
給料が上がったとはいえ、物価の上昇を考えれば実質的な生活はむしろ苦しくなっている。
ENEven though my salary went up, when you factor in inflation my standard of living has, if anything, gotten harder.
HD
専門家とはいえ、この分野の急速な変化にすべて対応できるわけではない。
ENExpert though one may be, that doesn't mean one can keep up with every rapid change in this field.
HD
契約を結んだとはいえ、正式な調印が済むまでは何が起こるか分からない。
ENAlthough we've reached an agreement, until the formal signing is done there's no telling what might happen.
HD
交渉に慣れているとはいえ、初対面の相手との駆け引きはやはり神経を使う。
ENSeasoned at negotiation though I am, the maneuvering with someone I'm meeting for the first time is still nerve-racking.
HD
早めに相談してくれれば手を打てたものを、黙っていたせいで事態は取り返しのつかないところまで来てしまった。
ENHad he consulted me sooner I could have done something — but because he kept quiet, things have reached a point of no return.
HD
一言謝れば済むものを、彼は意地を張って最後まで頭を下げなかった。
ENA single word of apology would have settled it, yet out of sheer stubbornness he refused to bow his head to the end.
HD
素直に休めばいいものを、無理を重ねた末に結局入院する羽目になった。
ENHe could simply have rested, but he kept pushing himself and ended up hospitalized after all.
HD
事前に一本連絡を入れておけばこんな混乱は避けられたものを。
ENOne phone call in advance and all this confusion could have been avoided — if only.
HD
今さら悔やんだところで、失った信頼が戻ってくるわけではない。
ENThere's no use regretting it now — the trust that's been lost isn't going to come back.
HD
いくら理屈を並べたところで、実績が伴わなければ誰も納得しないだろう。
ENNo matter how many arguments you line up, without results to back them up no one is going to be convinced.
HD
現場の担当者を説得したところで、上層部が首を縦に振らなければ計画は一歩も進まない。
ENEven if I win over the people on the ground, unless upper management gives its nod the plan won't move an inch.
HD
どれだけ急いだところで、この期に及んでは締め切りに間に合う見込みはもうない。
ENHowever much we hurry, at this late stage there's no longer any prospect of making the deadline.
HD
交渉は難航すると思いきや、意外にもあっさりと合意に至った。
ENI braced for the talks to drag on, but to my surprise we reached an agreement quite easily.
HD
反対されると思いきや、上司はむしろ私の提案を強く後押ししてくれた。
ENI expected to be shot down, but instead my boss threw his full weight behind my proposal.
HD
景気は緩やかに回復へ向かうと思いきや、ここへ来て再び冷え込みの兆しが見え始めた。
ENJust when the economy seemed to be heading toward a gradual recovery, signs of another downturn have started to appear.
HD
普段は物静かな人だと思いきや、いざ議論となると誰よりも熱く持論を語る。
ENYou'd take him for a quiet type, but the moment a debate starts he argues his case more passionately than anyone.
HD
完璧とは言わないまでも、締め切りまでには人前に出せる水準に仕上げたい。
ENIt may not be perfect, but by the deadline I want it polished to a level I can present to others.
HD
全面的に賛成しないまでも、せめて彼の立場を理解しようとする姿勢くらいは見せるべきだ。
ENEven if you don't fully agree, you should at least show that you're trying to understand his position.
HD
毎日とは言わないまでも、週に一度は必ず現場に足を運ぶよう心がけている。
ENIf not every day, then at least once a week I make a point of getting out to the site in person.
HD
正式な謝罪とまではいかないまでも、何らかの説明があってしかるべきだろう。
ENIt may not amount to a formal apology, but some kind of explanation is surely in order.
HD
経験こそ浅いながらも、彼女は難しい案件を粘り強くまとめ上げた。
ENInexperienced as she was, she doggedly saw the difficult case through to a resolution.
HD
及ばずながらも、微力を尽くして皆様のお役に立ちたいと存じます。
ENModest though my abilities are, I hope to do what little I can to be of service to you all.
HD
資金繰りに苦しみながらも、彼は最後まで従業員を一人も解雇しようとはしなかった。
ENEven as he struggled to keep the company afloat, he refused to the very end to lay off a single employee.
HD
内心ためらいながらも、彼は思い切って自分の本音を会議の場で口にした。
ENHesitant though he was inside, he steeled himself and spoke his true feelings right there in the meeting.
HD
どんな専門家といえども、未来を完全に予測することなど到底できはしない。
ENEven the greatest of experts cannot possibly predict the future with complete certainty.
HD
たとえ社長といえども、就業規則を一方的に無視することは許されない。
ENEven the company president is not permitted to unilaterally disregard the work regulations.
HD
わずかな金額といえども、公金である以上、その扱いには細心の注意が求められる。
ENHowever small the sum, the fact that it's public money means it must be handled with the utmost care.
HD
いかに優れた技術といえども、使い手を誤れば人を傷つける凶器にもなりうる。
ENHowever fine a technology may be, in the wrong hands it can become a weapon that harms people.
HD
一日といえども気を抜けば、目まぐるしい業界の変化にたちまち取り残されてしまう。
ENLet your guard down for even a single day, and you'll instantly be left behind by this dizzyingly fast-changing industry.
This theme drills the advanced concessive and adversative grammar that gives N1 Japanese its argumentative, formal register — the patterns you reach for in editorials, business correspondence, and reasoned discussion. It covers how each construction shades meaning differently: 「今さら悔やんだところで、失った信頼が戻ってくるわけではない」 dismisses a futile action, 「一言謝れば済むものを」 carries reproach over what should have been done, and 「専門家といえども、予測を誤ることは決して珍しくない」 concedes that even the strongest case has limits. Master these and you can concede a point, push back, or express regret with the precision an educated adult is expected to command.