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Even Though | ～のに

Even though ~, despite ~ (unexpected contrast)

N4Verb/い-adj (plain) + のに | な-adj/Noun + なのに

Step 34 of 66 in the N4 study path

N4Japanese Grammar

Even though ~, despite ~ (unexpected contrast)

Formation:Verb/い-adj (plain) + のに | な-adj/Noun + なのに

Even Though with のに

のに means "even though" or "despite." You use it when the result is the opposite of what you'd expect, and you're a bit surprised or annoyed about it. Our lesson on conjunctions covers のに alongside other connecting patterns like から and ので.

How to Connect

Verbs and い-Adjectives

Plain form + のに:

  • 勉強(べんきょう)したのに (even though I studied)
  • 高(たか)いのに (even though it's expensive)

な-Adjectives and Nouns

Add な before のに:

  • 好(す)きなのに (even though I like it)
  • 学生(がくせい)なのに (even though I'm a student)

のに vs ても

Both involve contrast, but the nuance is different:

  • のに: the result is real and the speaker is surprised or frustrated by it
  • ても: the result is hypothetical ("even if this happened, that would still be true")

Example Sentences

Tap any sentence to hear it read aloud.

Speed

  1. いっぱい勉強(べんきょう)したのに試験(しけん)に落(お)ちた。

    Even though I studied a lot, I failed the exam.

  2. 父(ちち)は背(せ)が高(たか)いのに僕(ぼく)は低(ひく)い。

    Even though my father is tall, I'm short.

  3. おいしいのにお腹(なか)が一杯(いっぱい)で食(た)べられない。

    Even though it's delicious, I can't eat it because I'm full.

  4. 長野(ながの)に雪(ゆき)がないのに、スキーに行(い)く。

    Even though there's no snow in Nagano, he's going skiing.

  5. 約束(やくそく)したのに来(こ)なかった。

    He didn't come, even though he promised.

  6. 春(はる)なのにまだ寒(さむ)いですね。

    It's spring, and yet it is still cold.

  7. 安(やす)いのに誰(だれ)も買(か)わない。

    It's cheap, and yet nobody buys it.

  8. あんなに練習(れんしゅう)したのに負(ま)けてしまった。

    We practised so hard, and still lost.

Quiz Time

Even Though | ～のに

6 questions to test what you actually remember.

3 multiple choice2 fill in the blank1 error correction

Want to mix this with other grammar points? Practice in the full Japanese Grammar Quiz.

Learn this step-by-step

See Even Though | ～のに used in context, with practice, in our full lesson:

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