Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 5: 10/22

にしては(Even) considering, (Even) for

Structure

Verb + にしては
Noun + にしては

Details

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    Standard

About にしては

Like として, にして highlights an aspect of something from which another thing happens. The primary difference being that と implies that (B) results from (A), while に implies that (B) happens/exists at the same time as (A). This reflects the case marking particle に's use as a location. The adverbial particle は presents the entire (A) phrase as something that will be compared.

にしては is regularly translated as 'considering (A), (B)', or 'even for (A), (B)', and may be used with both verbs and nouns. Like として, にして is often considered as a stand-alone adverbial particle, despite stemming from several parts.

Despite the 'considering (A), (B)' translation, にしては is closer in meaning to 'while (A), (B)'. This expresses that (A) and (B) share a simultaneous relation, but also that (B) is not necessarily a result of (A) at all.

Related

Examples

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    子供(こども)にしては静(しず)かな方(ほう)だ。

    Considering (she) is a child, (she) is a quiet one.

    力士(りきし)にしては結構(けっこう)細(ほそ)いですね。

    Considering he is a sumo wrestler, he is quite thin.

    猫(ねこ)にしては大(おお)きすぎませんか？

    (Even) for a cat, isn't it too big?

    うどんにしては随分(ずいぶん)細(ほそ)い麺(めん)だな。

    Considering it's udon, these noodles are quite thin.

    昔話(むかしばなし)にしては、随分(ずいぶん)現実(げんじつ)的(てき)な話(はなし)ですね。

    (Even) considering it is an old folk tale, it is quite a realistic story.

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      にしては – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        English translation:
        for
        considering it’s

        Structure:
        Verb + にしては
        Noun + にしては

        Explanation:
        [compared with the average]

        View on Bunpro

      • s1212z

        s1212z

        Is にしては and にしても interchangeable at all in certain contexts?

        I encountered this sentence giving both options but only one is correct

        伊藤さんはバレエを１０年も習っていた（ ____）、あまりダンスが上手じゃなかった。

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        Hey

        I don’t think that にしては and にしても are very interchangeable.

        In this example, にしては is most likely the correct answer, since we don’t have any context and it seems typical にしては use.

        AにしてはC “for”

        Is used when something (expressed by C) is contrary (opposite) to our expectation (what is normally expected based on common knowledge, standard) (let’s say it is invisible B) from A (person/group/action/etc). In short, comparing thing with a standard of things of the same type.

        Examples

        夏にしては寒いです。

        It is cold for summer.

        You expect days to be, hot or at least hot in summer. However, contrary to expectation the day is actually cold.

        チリペッパーにしては全然辛くないよ。
        It is not spicy at all for chili pepper.

        You expect chili to be su...

      • s1212z

        s1212z

        Wow, another awesome explanation! I know these take time to write so thank you @mrnoone , hopefully this helps other BP members as well.

        I think I’m seeing the divide a bit better now . I’m adding にしてもにしても now, it’s helpful as well given the “regardless” aspect. I think what tripped me up was the “Even though” could probably be used as a translation for both entries but it’s another case where English can cheat the nuances. I had similar trouble with a くせに or わりに example the other day with a similar instance.

        ...
      • Johnathan-Weir

        Johnathan-Weir

        The 日本語の森 video link isn’t working. This seems to be the new link:

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        @Johnathan-Weir
        I have updated the link!

        Thank you!

      • HotAirGun

        HotAirGun

        I’m kinda confused by this example sentence:

        （彼女は）政治家にしてはかなり若いから、少し不安ですね。
        Considering (she) is a politician, (she) is quite young, so I am a bit anxious.

        Why in the last part the doer is “I”, not “she”? It depends on the context, or maybe there is some rule I don’t know?
        If there is a sentence like

        Considering she is a politician, she is quite young, so she is a bit anxious

        how it would look like in Japanese?

      • Daru

        Daru

        Because it’s being read from a given speakers’ viewpoint. You’re stating that because she’s young, that’s giving you anxiety.

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