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I often hear とは言え used as a conjunction between sentences. What does it mean?

ALC didn't offer much help.
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2017-03-29T00:52:19.120
44991
2017-03-29T01:04:04.670
1805
question
grammar conjunctions
とは言え conjunction
[It's on
ALC](http://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=%E3%81%A8%E3%81%AF%E3%81%84%E3%81%88&ref=sa).
It's listed in hiragana because it's a fossilized conjunction.

  * とはいえ: nevertheless; that being said; be it as it may

Etymologically, this is 'quotative-と' + 'thematic-は' + '已然形 of 言う（言ふ）'. Hence
literally "that being said."
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2017-03-29T00:59:34.230
44992
2017-03-29T00:59:34.230
5010
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answer
It is basically used as "but".

Literally it means something like "it can be said".

For example,

> 偶然の出会いだった。とは言え、必然という運命を感じる。  
>  Although it can be said that I met her by coincidence, it felt like destiny
> to me.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-29T01:04:04.670
44993
2017-03-29T01:04:04.670
18142
44991
answer