- JLPT N4
のに (even though)
NikoJLPT N4: のに (even though)
のに can be used when saying something like "even though" or "in spite of the fact."
We often see this in example sentences in other lessons. Since it's listed as an N4 grammar point, though, we should give のに its own lesson, too.
Here's an example:
せっかく日本に来たのに、日本語を使う機会がありません。
せっかく にほん に きた のに、 にほんご を つかう きかい が ありません。
I came all the way to Japan, but I don’t have any chances to speak Japanese.
Generally speaking, のに is used when the speaker is saying negative things — expressing doubts, dissatisfaction, regret, etc.
Accordingly, it sounds strange when used with volitional expressions, hopes, commands, etc.
For example, you shouldn't say this:
✕ めんどくさいのに、歯を磨きなさい。
✕ めんどくさい のに、 は を みがきなさい。
✕ Brush your teeth, even though it’s a pain.
✕ Literally: “being a hassle / a pain + のに, + teeth + を + brush / polish (=[command form]).”
In this case, it would be better to use ～ても：
〇 めんどくさくても、歯を磨きなさい。
〇 めんどくさくても、 は を みがきなさい。
〇 Brush your teeth, even if it is a pain.
For more on ～ても, go back to this lesson: JLPT N4: ～ても (even if).
Here's another example:
こんなに寒いのに、夫は半袖のシャツを着ています。
こんなに さむい のに、 おっと は はんそで の シャツ を きています。
Even though it’s this cold, my husband is still wearing a short-sleeved shirt.
👷 Construction 👷
Just put a word in plain-form before のに：
Plain-Form Word ＋ のに
Be careful, though. When the word before のに is a NOUN or a na-adjective, we'll also slip a な in there:
NOUN / na-adjective ＋ なのに
Here are a couple of examples with なのに：
甘いものが嫌いなのに、なんでパティシエになったんですか。
あまい もの が きらい なのに、 なんで パティシエ に なった んです か。
Why did you become a pastry chef even though you hate sweet foods?
もう５月なのに、寒いですね。
もう ごがつ なのに、 さむい です ね。
It’s (still) cold, even though it’s already May.
Sometimes you'll put のに at the end of your sentence.
This shows that you are disappointed or unhappy with the situation in question:
バーベキュー、中止になったんですか。楽しみにしていたのに...。
バーベキュー、 ちゅうし に なった んです か。 たのしみ に していた のに...。
The barbecue was canceled? Oh, I was looking forward to it…
I was tempted to make that second sentence be "But I was looking forward to it..." But I was worried that would sound too whiny for this Japanese sentence.
That's all for this one.
I use のに pretty much every day, so this lesson is quite important.
You also may wish to go back and review this other usage of のに：JLPT N4: のに (for).
Niko
