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JLPT N4Conjunctions

のに(concessive) — The Frustrated "Despite"

Connects two clauses where the result runs contrary to logical expectation. It almost always carries an emotional tone of frustration, regret, complaint, or strong surprise.

Grammar path · 練習

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Pro lessonUNIT 46 · CONJUNCTIONS

Structure · 形

[Plain form] + のに + [Unexpected Result] (Noun/な-adj + な + のに)

Examples · 例文

  • あんなに練習したのに、負けてしまった。

    Anna ni renshuu shita noni, makete shimatta.

    Even though I practiced so hard, I ended up losing.

    Expected: win. Actual: lost. Tone: frustration.

  • 日曜日なのに、仕事をしなければならない。

    Nichiyoubi na noni, shigoto wo shinakereba naranai.

    Even though it is Sunday, I have to work.

    日曜日 (Noun) + な + のに

  • 薬を飲んだのに、熱が下がらない。

    Kusuri wo nonda noni, netsu ga sagaranai.

    Despite taking the medicine, the fever won't go down.

    飲んだ (plain past) + のに (complaint)

Usage notes · 注意

  • Emotion over Logic: Do NOT use のに for neutral contrast ("It's cheap but good"). Use が/けど for that. のに is for when expectation feels betrayed (I studied 100 hours AND STILL FAILED).
  • The Na Trap: Nouns and な-adjectives require な before のに (元気なのに, 日曜日なのに).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones のに is tested against.

vsけど / が

けど/が is neutral contrast ('but'); のに adds an emotional charge — frustration or regret that the result betrayed expectation.

vsても

ても is 'even if' (hypothetical/general); のに is 'even though' about something that actually happened.

More conjunctions

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