N4 Conditional Forms

~のに: meaning, usage and examples

~のに means: even though…

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

Examples

1. たくさん寝ねたのに、まだ眠ねむいです。

   Even though I slept a lot, I'm still sleepy.

2. 高たかかったのに、すぐ壊こわれました。

   Even though it was expensive, it broke quickly.

3. 約束やくそくしたのに、木村きむらさんは来きませんでした。

   Even though he promised, Mr. Kimura did not come.

4. 日曜日にちようびなのに、会社かいしゃに行いかなければなりません。

   Even though it is Sunday, I have to go to work.

When to use it

のに means "even though" or "despite the fact that". Use it when the result is the opposite of what you expected, and you feel surprised, disappointed, annoyed or sorry about it: 約束やくそくしたのに来こなかった (They promised, but they did not come). At the end of a sentence it shows regret or complaint: もっと勉強べんきょうすればよかったのに.

Nuance

Carries emotion: dissatisfaction, surprise or regret. Because it reports a real result, the second half cannot be a request, an order or the speaker's intention. Common in speech; be careful using it about the listener, as it can sound like blame.

Compare

のに vs けど / が: けど simply links two contrasting facts with no strong feeling; のに adds surprise or complaint. のに vs ても: ても is "even if" (it may happen), のに is "even though" (it did happen). Do not confuse it with the purpose のに (駅えきまで行いくのに30分ぷんかかる).

Tip: Remember the な before のに with nouns and な-adjectives: 日曜日にちようびなのに, 静しずかなのに. Leaving out the な is a very common mistake.