de todos modos y sin embargo

Question

In a lot of ways, these phrases define the same thing, but they don't feel the same. sin embargo, when used as a conjunction is defined as

1. however
2. but
3. nevertheless
4. nonetheless
5. still
6. notwithstanding

and de todos modos seems to be used as an adverb and is defined as

1. anyway
2. in any case
3. at any rate
4. anyhow
5. however

Maybe a couple of sentences as an example.

• Yo no soy traductora. De todos modos, me interesan los idiomas.
• Él no es un astrónomo. De todos modos, le interesa la astronomía.

I guess I'm asking about interchangeability. Will sin embargo work in the above sentences for however (which is a definition both phrases share), or, what is the meaning of de todos modos in this context? Is it nevertheless, nonetheless, or however (sin embargo) or, is it anyway, in any case or however (de todos modos)?

or have I lost my mind?

I have no idea about the answer to your question. When I looked at the English of your two sentences and thought what I would say in Spanish, sin embargo came to mind for the second one. Picture me confused. :-) - Delores--Lindsey, May 13, 2010

That was what I was thinking, sin embargo seemed to 'feel' right. - Jack-OBrien, May 13, 2010

Answer 1

I'd say that the following sentences are perfectly correct, and convey the same meaning:

•Yo no soy traductora. Sin embargo, me interesan los idiomas.

•Él no es un astrónomo. Sin embargo, le interesa la astronomía.

Answer 2

"sin embargo" has the sense of providing an exception to whatever preceded (much like 'not withstanding'/'nevertheless'). The same effect can be achieved by "pero, de todos modos ..." Without the "pero", one is simply offering a summarized opinion (much like saying "all things considered") but not (necessarily) a contrasting opinion.