Even though, and yet: 〜のに
Plain form + のに; noun/な-adj + なのに
Plain form + のに (noun/な-adj + なのに): “even though, and yet”, between two real facts, with surprise, disappointment or reproach. On its own at the end: regret. No intention or order after it.
In short
〜のに links two real facts that don't fit together, with an emotion: surprise, disappointment, reproach. 勉強したのに、試験に 落ちた (I studied, and yet I failed the exam). On its own at the end of a sentence, it expresses regret or reproach: 言ったのに! (but I told you!).
- 勉強したのに、試験に 落ちた。べんきょうしたのに、しけんに おちた。I studied, and yet I failed the exam.
- 日曜日なのに、会社に 行かなければ なりません。にちようびなのに、かいしゃに いかなければ なりません。Even though it's Sunday, I have to go into the office.
- この 店は 高いのに、あまり おいしくない。この みせは たかいのに、あまり おいしくない。This place is expensive, and yet it's not very good.
- 何度も 言ったのに！なんども いったのに！But I told you so many times!
The basics
〜のに says: “after A, you'd expect B, and the opposite happened”. Both parts are real facts, and the speaker is unhappy or surprised. That's what sets it apart from a plain “but”: it's closer to “even though” or “and yet”, with feeling.
I studied, and yet I failed the exam.
- verb
- particle
- noun
- 春なのに、今日は 寒いですね。はるなのに、きょうは さむいですね。It's spring, and yet it's cold today.
- 早く 寝たのに、朝 起きられなかった。はやく ねたのに、あさ おきられなかった。I went to bed early, and yet I couldn't get up in the morning.
How to form it
Same formation as ので: plain form + のに, and だ becomes な after a noun or a な-adjective.
| Type | Present | Past |
|---|---|---|
| verb | 知って いるのに | 言ったのに |
| い-adjective | 高いのに | 高かったのに |
| な-adjective | ひまなのに | ひまだったのに |
| noun | 日曜日なのに | 日曜日だったのに |
- ひまなのに、電話を くれない。ひまなのに、でんわを くれない。He's got free time, and yet he doesn't call me.
On its own at the end: regret
When the second part is obvious, it's left unsaid and the sentence stops on のに. This expresses regret (“if only…”) or reproach (“but I told you”).
- 楽しみに して いたのに…。たのしみに して いたのに…。And I was so looking forward to it…
- せっかく 作ったのに…。せっかく つくったのに…。And I went to all that trouble to make it…
のに, が/けど, ても: three kinds of “but”
が and けど simply contrast two ideas, with no particular emotion. のに adds surprise or annoyance, and talks about real facts. 〜ても (coming later) talks about a hypothesis: “even if”.
Since のに expresses a disappointed observation, the second part can't be an intention, an order or an invitation: “雨なのに、行きましょう” isn't said. You'd say 雨ですが、行きましょう.
Be careful: there's another のに, meaning purpose (“for, to be used for”), which comes later. You can recognise it by what follows: 使う, かかる, 便利…
| Phrase | Nuance |
|---|---|
| 高いですが、おいしいです | neutral contrast |
| 高いのに、おいしくない | it's expensive, and yet it's not good (disappointment) |
| 高くても、買います | even if it's expensive, I'll buy it (hypothesis) |
- この 本は 古いけど、おもしろい。この ほんは ふるいけど、おもしろい。This book is old, but it's interesting.
Common mistakes
- Using のに for a simple neutral contrast: “東京は 大きいのに、大阪は 小さい” sounds like a complaint. Use が or けど instead.
- Forgetting な: 日曜日なのに, 静かなのに.
- Putting an intention or an order after のに: “雨なのに、行こう” is wrong.
- Mixing it up with the のに of purpose (それを 作るのに 三日 かかる), coming later.
8 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 N4 point is on the Tanimachi Line (Learning) of the Osaka subway.