This question is really interesting. I never thought about it that way.
First of all, I'd like to suggest 〜ところで as the equivalent conjunctive particle:
- いきなり言われたところでわからない (= いきなり言われても〜)
- 急に来られたところで会えない (= 急に来られても〜)
- ぜんぶ頼まれたところでできない (= ぜんぶ頼まれても〜)
I tried to reverse engineer a catch-all translation that is better than even
or although
, and I think it's but
:
- いきなり言われても〜 Tell me out of the blue, but I wouldn't know.
- 急に来られても〜 Come unannounced, but I wouldn't be able to see you.
- ぜんぶ頼まれても〜 Ask me to do everything, but I wouldn't be able to.
Try it out with more examples here and here.
Side Note: To stretch it a bit, you can maybe even rephrase the other sentences to fit this conceptual mould, too:
- 食べてもいいよ → 食べたところでかまわないよ
食べてもいいよ → 食べたところでかまわないよ
Eat it, but I wouldn't mind.
Eat it, but I wouldn't mind.
- 先生でもたまに勉強する → 先生であったところで勉強はする
先生でもたまに勉強する → 先生であったところで勉強はする
Being a teacher, but still study.
Being a teacher, but still study.
- 高くても買う → 高かったところで買いはする
高くても買う → 高かったところで買いはする
Be expensive, but I'll still buy.
Be expensive, but I'll still buy.