Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 7: 16/21

割(わり)にAlthough, Despite, Rather...for, Unexpectedly, Comparatively, Considering

Structure

Verb + わりに
［い］Adjective + わりに
［な］Adjective + な + わりに
Noun + の + わりに

Details

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About 割に

As an adverb, 割(わり)に is usually used in a similar way to 'although', 'despite', or 'comparatively' in English.

割(わり)に may be used at the beginning of a sentence, or after any word/phrase that it is highlighting as being 'comparative'. When following な-Adjectives or nouns, な or の will be required.

割(わり) itself is a noun meaning 'proportionate', and is primarily used as a suffix. 割(わり)に may be thought of as a direct extension of this use, as 'proportionately' is its closest literal meaning.

Fun Fact

While 割(わり)に is often thought to make comparisons between things, it actually only ever compares something to itself (or things within the same category). The 'proportion' that is then highlighted is something that is not common within the category of (A).

Caution

Both 割(わり)と and 割(わり)に are quite common expressions. However, 割(わり)と is used far more often in casual speech to show that something is 'unexpectedly (A)'. It will also frequently be used as a stand-alone expression, appearing directly before the word (usually an adjective) that is of a 'considerable' amount.

  • これ割(わり)と美味(あい)しいよ。
    This is unexpectedly tasty.
  • 昨日(きのう)買(か)った包丁(ほうちょう)は割(わり)といい。
    The knife I bought yesterday is quite good.

Examples

--:--

    今日(きょう)は冬(ふゆ)の割(わり)に暖(あたた)かい。

    Today is rather warm for winter.

    高(たか)い食(た)べ物(もの)の割(わり)に、美味(おい)しくなさそう。

    The expensive food looks unexpectedly unappetizing.

    私(わたし)はたくさん勉強(べんきょう)した割(わり)に、テストの点数(てんすう)が悪(わる)かった。

    Although I studied a lot, I got a bad score on the test.

    あの人(ひと)は頭(あたま)が良(い)い割(わり)に、コミュニケーションが苦手(にがて)です。

    Although that person is smart, he is bad at communication.

    疲(つか)れている割(わり)には、かなり動(うご)けた方(ほう)だと思(おも)います。

    I think he is rather quite active for how tired he is.

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