Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 2: 17/17

のに
Despite, Although, Even though

Structure
Verb + のに
[い]Adjective + のに
[な]Adjective + + のに
Noun + + のに
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
Although のに is often thought of as a simple combination of the particles and , it is actually its own particle, with the meaning of ‘despite’, or ‘in order to’. In this lesson, we will focus primarily on the ‘despite’ nuance.
Due to のに being a 接続助詞(せつぞくじょし) (conjunction particle), it can be linked to almost any word type, to show that ‘despite (A), (B)’. As with many conjunction particles, な will be required after a noun/な-Adjective, but before のに.
  • 明日(あした)テストがあるのに彼(かれ)は勉強(べんきょう)しないでゲームている
    Despite having a test tomorrow, he is playing games without studying.
  • 何(なん)で納豆(なっとう)臭(くさ)のに美味(おい)しの?
    Why does natto taste good, despite smelling bad?
  • 彼(かれ)イケメンなのにいつも汗臭(あせくさ)
    Even though he is a good looking guy, he always smells like sweat.
  • この車(くるま)スポーツカーなのに遅(おそ)
    Despite being a sports car, this car is slow.
It is also possible to see のに, instead of なのに, but this is something that is only seen in certain dialects, and would be considered incorrect by the vast majority of native speakers.
  • 虫歯(むしば)のに、チョコレート食(た)べたから歯(は)痛(いた)い。
    My tooth hurts because I ate chocolate, despite having a cavity.
Fun Fact
Regardless of having two quite different translations (‘despite’, and ‘in order to’), のに always functions in the same way.
In the situation of ‘(A) のに, (B)’, (B) is/will be the result.
The only difference between how the nuance will be read, is whether the (B) statement is a logical conclusion, or an illogical one. When logical, the meaning is usually ‘in order to’, when ‘illogical’, the meaning is usually ‘despite’.
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彼(かれ)忙(いそが)しいのにゲームている
Despite being busy, he is playing video games.
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天気予報(てんきよほう)悪(わる)かったのに晴(は)れた
Despite the weather forecast being bad, it was sunny.
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あの女(おんな)の人(ひと)綺麗(きれい)のに彼氏(かれし)いない。
Despite being pretty, that woman doesn't have a boyfriend.
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Books
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 238
みんなの日本語 II
Page 126 [CH 45]
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 331
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 109