N4 Purpose & Change

~(の)に: meaning, usage and examples

Q: What does ~(の)に mean?

For.... Example: ここから駅まで歩くのに30分かかります。 (It takes 30 minutes to walk from here to the station.)

~(の)に means: for...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

How to form it

＜Verb dictionary＞ + のに / ＜Noun＞ + に

Examples

ここから駅えきまで歩あるくのに30分ぷんかかります。
It takes 30 minutes to walk from here to the station.
この漢字かんじを覚おぼえるのに時間じかんがかかりました。
It took time to memorize this kanji.
このはさみは、紙かみを切きるのに便利べんりです。
These scissors are handy for cutting paper.
この箱はこは、本ほんを入いれるのにちょうどいいです。
This box is just right for putting books in.

When to use it

This のに means "for" or "in order to", and it is used with a limited set of words in the second half: かかる (it takes time or money), 使つかう (it is used for), いい, 便利べんりだ, 必要ひつようだ, 役やくに立たつ. It says how much something costs, how long it takes, or what something is good for: このはさみは紙かみを切きるのに便利べんりです.

Nuance

Neutral; common in daily speech. The main clause describes cost, time, usefulness or need, not a deliberate action. With a noun, に is used without の: 旅行りょこうに便利べんりなかばん, 料理りょうりに使つかう. It is a set pattern, so learn it with these words.

Compare

Purpose のに vs ために: ために is followed by an action (家いえを買かうためにお金かねをためる); のに is followed by an evaluation or cost (家いえを買かうのにお金かねがかかる). Purpose のに vs "even though" のに: 30分ぷん (to get there) vs 急いそいだのに遅おくれた (even though I hurried).

Tip: Tell the two のに apart by the second half: かかる, 便利べんり, 必要ひつよう, いい point to purpose; a surprising result points to "even though".

Related points

Same form, different use

N4~のにeven though…

Frequently asked questions

What does ~(の)に mean?

For.... Example: ここから駅えきまで歩あるくのに30分ぷんかかります。 (It takes 30 minutes to walk from here to the station.)

How do you form ~(の)に?

＜Verb dictionary＞ + のに / ＜Noun＞ + に. Tell the two のに apart by the second half: かかる, 便利べんり, 必要ひつよう, いい point to purpose; a surprising result points to "even though".