How to say "although" in Japanese

• けれどJLPT N4approx.Common
  conjunction, particleJoins two clauses with a mild 'although/but' contrast, the second qualifying the first. A polite form, it sits naturally in courteous speech and works as a general-purpose 'although' when no sharper nuance is needed.
• もっともJLPT N3approx.Common
  conjunctionIntroduces a qualifying remark that limits what was just said — 'but then', 'though'. Use it when the 'although' clause comes as an afterthought or second thought, not as a contrast planned from the start.
• 反面はんめんCommon
  conjunction, particleSets a statement against its own opposite side, 'while'. Use it when the 'although' clause is the flip side of the fact just described, two faces of one thing, rather than a separate point.
• のにCommon
  particleLinks clauses where the second runs against what the first leads you to expect — 'even though', 'and yet'. It often carries a shade of regret or complaint, as when effort fails to pay off.
  小ちいさいおうちはみすぼらしく見みえるようになってしまいました・・・まだまだもとの通とおりしっかりとしているのに。↗

  The small house had come to look shabby, though it was just as good as ever underneath.
• もののCommon
  particle, conjunctionConcedes a fact and adds that the result you would expect from it does not follow — 'despite the fact that'. Typical when something was done or obtained, yet the natural outcome fails to materialize.
  パーティーに行いくことにしたものの、気きが進すすまない。↗

  Though I have decided to go to the party, I'm not looking forward to it.

Use 「けれど」 for a plain mild contrast, 「のに」 when the outcome defies expectation, 「ものの」 to concede a fact whose expected result fails, 反面 for the flip side of one fact, and 「もっとも」 for an afterthought qualification.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• けれどbut
• もっともbut then
• 反面はんめんwhile
• のにalthough
• もののalthough
• ところをalthough (it is a certain time or something is in a certain condition)
• 半面はんめんwhile
• けどbut
• だけどbut
• かかわらずin spite of
• にもかかわらずin spite of
• だけれどもbut
• ながらもthough
• だけどもbut
• たとえeven if
• ものをalthough
• こそあれalthough
• ばってんbut
• とはいえthough
• なれどbut
• こそすれand
• けんどbut
• ですけどbut
• こそalthough
• ながらwhile
• 一方いっぽうwhereas
• がbut
• ともeven if
• 条じょうalthough
• かてalthough
• 言い条いいじょうalthough
• にしてdespite
• もeven if
• てalthough