にもかかわらずdespite; in spite of
Something happened in spite of the circumstances: it rained, and a big crowd came all the same. This is what のに becomes in news, reports and speeches: formal, and stated as fact.
Despite the rain, a large crowd gathered.
How to form it
Noun／plain form + にもかかわらず
It goes straight onto a noun: 雨にもかかわらず. A な-adjective usually takes である: 簡単であるにもかかわらず. にもかかわらず、 also opens a sentence: "nevertheless".
- Before it
- A fact that ought to have changed things: bad weather, a warning, an objection, a busy day.
- Tone
- Formal. By what follows, it admires, criticises or thanks.
- Where you'll meet it
- News, reports, speeches, business emails.
In use
Despite repeated warnings, the administrator failed to take the necessary measures.
Thank you all for coming today when you are so busy.
How a speech opens.
Although the law requires them to be disclosed, the documents have not been made public.
The latest investigation reported no safety problems. Nevertheless, operations were temporarily suspended.
Too heavy for small talk
It carries the weight of a report. About a small everyday thing, said to a friend, it can sound like reading the news aloud.
Sounds odd: 昨日は
Yesterday, despite being sleepy, I played games until the middle of the night.
To a friend: 眠かったのに.
Close neighbours
にかかわらずN2
Without も it is "regardless of". It follows a word that covers every case, such as age or the weather, not one fact.
The event will go ahead as planned, whatever the weather.
のにN4
The everyday word for this, said with feeling: surprise, disappointment, a complaint.
Even though it was Sunday, my father went off to work.
ながら（も）N2
After a state: a verb like 知る, an adjective or a noun. You admit something that sits oddly with what follows. 残念ながら is this one.
Our home is small, but it's a happy one.
つつもN2
Mostly after a verb of knowing or thinking: someone knows better and does it anyway. Stiffer than ながら（も）.
I knew it was wrong, and I lied anyway.
もののN2
The written けど: you grant a fact, then say it didn't lead where you'd expect. Bought, but not used.
I bought a new camera, but I haven't used it once yet.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
経験の
Choose an answer to see why.
2You are telling a friend about your weekend. Which one is the everyday way to say it?
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
Despite the bad weather, the rescue operation went on as planned.
Despite the budget cuts, the research team completed the survey it had planned.
Although it is a small organization, the company has three bases overseas.
A noun can take である too.
Although ample evidence has been presented, the committee put off reaching a conclusion.