How to say "nevertheless" in Japanese

• それにしてもCommon
  expressionCovers 'nevertheless' with an 'at any rate, all things considered' flavor: you accept what was said, then step back and remark anyway. Good when conceding a point yet still finding it surprising or insufficient.
  それにしても、幼稚園ようちえんというところは、季節きせつの行事ぎょうじにとても敏感びんかんです。↗

  Even so, kindergartens are sensitive to seasonal events.
• それでもJLPT N3approx.Common
  conjunctionThe core 'even so; nevertheless' choice: despite everything just stated, the situation stands. Use it when a fact holds in spite of an obstacle, as in 'it was expensive, but nevertheless I bought it.'
  雨あめが激はげしく降ふっていますそれでも私は行いかなければならない。↗

  It's raining hard and yet I must go.
• しかしながらJLPT N1approx.Common
  adverb, conjunctionA formal 'however; nevertheless' suited to writing and speeches rather than casual chat. Choose it when the contrast is argumentative — the text concedes one thing and asserts another in a deliberate, weighty way.
  お金かねはほとんどない。しかしながら、私はあなたといれば幸しあわせだ。↗

  I have little money. However, I feel happy with you.
• でもJLPT N5approx.Common
  conjunctionEveryday 'but; though'; the 'nevertheless' sense is real but light and conversational. For a strong or formal 'nevertheless' it is usually too casual, though perfectly natural in spoken contrasts between friends.
  「そうしたわよ」彼女かのじょは文句もんくを言いった。「でも水みずなんかなかったわよ」↗

  "I did that," she complained, "but there was no water in it!"
• ところがJLPT N3approx.Common
  conjunctionMeans 'even so; however; whereupon', with a nuance of an unexpected turn: what happened defied expectation. Use it when the follow-up surprises, not merely contrasts; it is weaker as a plain 'nevertheless'.
  ところが実じつはどうすることもできないのです。↗

  As it is, I can do nothing.

For a concessive 'even so' use 「それでも」 or 「ところが」; 「それにしても」 adds an 'all things considered' tone; 「でも」 is casual 'but'; 「しかしながら」 is a formal 'however'.

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

• それにしてもnevertheless
• それでもbut (still)
• しかしながらhowever
• でもbut
• ところがeven so
• だがbut
• ですがbut
• されどもnevertheless
• さりながらnevertheless
• だからってeven so
• だからといってwhile it may be true that
• しかるにhowever
• それにもかかわらずnonetheless
• さりとて(and) yet
• そうかと言ってそうかといってbut still
• ところがどっこいeven so
• それなのにand yet
• なのにand yet
• やのにand yet
• だのにand yet
• しかもnevertheless
• なおかつand yet
• にもかかわらずnonetheless
• ただbut