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

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    Standard

About のに

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 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.

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.

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'.

Examples

--:--

    無理(むり)って()ったのにまだやるの?

    Even though I said it was impossible, you're still going to do it? (despite)

    (かれ)(いそが)のに、ゲームている

    Despite being busy, he is playing video games. (even though)

    天気予報(てんきよほう)(わる)かったのに()れた。

    Despite the weather forecast being bad, it was sunny. (even though)

    あの(おんな)(ひと)きれいなのに彼氏(かれし)いない。

    Despite being pretty, that woman doesn't have a boyfriend. (even though)

    あまり牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)がないのにスーパー()った(とき)()なかったの?

    Even though we are running low on milk, you didn't buy any when you went to the store? (despite)

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のに – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (10 in total)

  • Pushindawood

    Pushindawood

    despite
    although
    even though

    Structure

    • Verb + のに
    • Noun + な・のに
    • い-Adjective + のに
    • な-Adjective + な・のに

    View on Bunpro

  • mrthuvi

    mrthuvi

    Clause after のに can be facts (事実) but can’t be judgements (仮定).
    Clause after ても can be facts or judgements but mainly for judgements.
    Clause after のに can be used to convey emotions.

    https://www.tomojuku.com/blog/noni-temo/

  • CrisH

    CrisH

    鉛筆えんぴつ必要ひつよういていたのにってなかった。

    In this sentence, how is 書いていた coming to mean “It was written”? I would have read that as “[Someone] was writing”. Or is it just that an unspecified person, such as a teacher, was writing it and the speaker is referencing that?

  • gyroninja

    gyroninja

    In this sentence 書いていた is referring to a change of state.

    Empty blackboard: 鉛筆が必要と書いていない
    After the teacher writes “鉛筆が必要”: 鉛筆が必要と書いている
    After the teacher erases blackboard: 鉛筆が必要と書いていた

    Would it make sense to you if I were to say that 鉛筆が必要 was written on the blackboard?

  • CrisH

    CrisH

    I’m afraid not - I understood that 書いていた meant “was writing”, not “was written”. I would have expected 書かれていた in that case.

    Going back to「鉛筆が必要と書いていない」though, Google Translate gives it as “Doesn’t say I need a pencil”, so is it just that 書いている (and the various conjugations) is used to mean “to say” in the non-vocal sense of the word, as in “The rota says I’m working Tuesday”?

  • gyroninja

    gyroninja

    It can mean either depending on the context. In the first case we are referring to an action that happened over a period of time (someone was not writing, then they were writing then there were not writing). In the second case we are referring to a change in state (the words were not written and now they are written).

  • CrisH

    CrisH

    So if, for example, someone dropped a bunch of those children’s cubes with the letters on them such that they landed saying “HELP”, you wouldn’t use it?

    I note from the grammar point on change of state that it “is used with a verb that expresses a change that happens within a moment”, so presumably in this case it’s the moment of writing that’s being considered?

    I also see that there’s some ambiguity with the interpretation of ている with certain verbs anyway, so I guess this is probably jus...

  • Howl_UK

    Howl_UK

    Would と書かれている have the nuance of “It is (generally) written (and accepted by everyone) that you need a pencil (in these situations)” ?
    It follows the same syntax as と考えられている と言われている と思われている.

  • Meatdog

    Meatdog

    I am a bit confused on the fun fact that states:

    “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’.”

    I tried browsing for a sentence that translates to “in order to” but my search has come up flat. What would be an example of an logical sentence that would translate to “in order to”?

  • IcyIceBear

    IcyIceBear

    I’m baaaaack
    Separate grammar lessons

    In order to

  • Meatdog

    Meatdog

    Haha, back again! Thanks again, it seems like what Im looking for is in another grammar lesson

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