How do you break down "かといって"? In the phrase `` or ``, meaning `having said that, on the other hand`, I'm not sure what the `` and `` are. My first guess is that these are the generic particles (++), but I couldn't find any evidence to suggest that (or, for that matter, to refute it). Of course, I could be over thinking this, so it could be a "that's just how it is said" kind of phrase.

Like you say, is just .

* makes it into a question
* is the quoting particle
* is "say/called"



It can appear without any ambiguity in the middle of a sentence

>
> He offered to bring me home.

When it is used as a conjunction at the beginning at a sentence it works like , , , etc., which apply to the whole preceding sentence (or argument).