Even though (reproach): 〜くせに
plain form (な-adj + な / Noun + の) + くせに
plain form (な / の) + くせに: “even though”, with reproach or contempt towards someone else. For simple disappointment, or about yourself: のに.
In short
〜くせに means “even though”, but with reproach or contempt: “you know perfectly well, and you won't tell me!”. The speaker feels the person is acting in a contradictory or inappropriate way. It's an emotionally charged spoken word, always aimed at someone other than yourself.
- 知っているくせに、教えてくれない。しっているくせに、おしえてくれない。He knows perfectly well, and yet he won't tell me.
- 子どものくせに、偉そうなことを言うな。こどものくせに、えらそうなことをいうな。You're just a kid, so stop acting so high and mighty.
- 歌が下手なくせに、いつもカラオケに行きたがる。うたがへたなくせに、いつもからおけにいきたがる。He can't sing to save his life, and yet he always wants to go to karaoke.
The basics
くせ means “bad habit, failing”. 〜くせに therefore points out a failing: “given what you are (or what you know), you shouldn't be acting like this”. English says “even though”, “and yet”, “for someone who…”. The tone is always critical.
He knows perfectly well, and yet he won't tell me.
- verb
- grammatical form
- 自分では何もしないくせに、人のことばかり言う。じぶんではなにもしないくせに、ひとのことばかりいう。He never does anything himself, yet he's always criticising others.
How to form it
くせ is a noun: link it like a noun. Plain form for verbs and い-adjectives, な for な-adjectives, の for nouns.
| Word | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | plain form + くせに | 知っているくせに・知らないくせに |
| い-adjective | plain form + くせに | 若いくせに |
| な-adjective | な + くせに | 下手なくせに |
| Noun | の + くせに | 子どものくせに |
- 若いくせに、もう疲れたの？わかいくせに、もうつかれたの？You're young, and you're already tired?
- 何も知らないくせに、勝手なことを言わないで。なにもしらないくせに、かってなことをいわないで。You don't know anything, so don't talk nonsense.
くせに or のに?
のに (N4) also means “even though”, but it can stay neutral, express simple disappointment, and be about yourself (一生懸命勉強したのに、合格できなかった). くせに is always a reproach, always aimed at someone else, and harsher.
| のに | くせに | |
|---|---|---|
| tone | disappointment, surprise | reproach, contempt |
| subject | anyone, including me | someone else |
| register | neutral | spoken, casual |
- 一生懸命勉強したのに、合格できなかった。いっしょうけんめいべんきょうしたのに、ごうかくできなかった。I studied like mad, and yet I didn't pass.
くせに at the end of a sentence
In speech, the sentence is often cut off after くせに: 知ってるくせに！ (“you know perfectly well!”). Between people who are close, in a teasing tone, it can be affectionate. But with a stranger or a superior, くせに is hurtful: avoid it.
- 本当は好きなくせに。ほんとうはすきなくせに。Come on, you love it, really.
Common mistakes
- Using it about yourself: 「私は知っているくせに」 doesn't work; for yourself, it's のに.
- Using it politely or with a superior: くせに sounds like contemptuous criticism.
- Forgetting の after a noun: 子どものくせに, not 子どもくせに.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N3 point is on the Uji Line (Feelings) of the Kyoto lines.