Grammar › Concession & Contrast
ものの — “although, even though”
Concedes a fact, then pivots to a result that doesn't fully follow from it
A plain-form clause + ものの concedes a fact and then adds a “but” that undercuts or complicates it — “it's true that X, but still Y.” It's more formal/written than けど/が, and often appears in explanations that acknowledge a partial success or an unresolved problem.
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Plain form + ものの | 合格したものの、あまり嬉しくなかった — I passed, but I wasn't all that happy about it |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 薬を飲んだものの、熱は下がらなかった。 | くすりをのんだものの、ねつはさがらなかった。 kusuriwonondamonono、netsuhasagaranakatta。 | I took the medicine, but my fever didn't go down. |
| 日本語を勉強しているものの、まだうまく話せません。 | にほんごをべんきょうしているものの、まだうまくはなせません。 nihongowobenkyoushiteirumonono、madaumakuhanasemasen。 | I'm studying Japanese, but I still can't speak it well. |
| 謝ったものの、彼女はまだ怒っている。 | あやまったものの、かのじょはまだおこっている。 ayamattamonono、kanojohamadaokotteiru。 | I apologized, but she's still angry. |
🔊 Tap any Japanese sentence to hear it; kanji link to their study pages.
Watch out
ものの is a formal/written “but” — in casual speech, けど or のに is far more natural; save ものの for essays, reports, and news-style writing.