JLPT N2Spoken and writtenComplaint or disbelief

それなのにand yet

What happened clashes with what should have followed, and you say it as a complaint or in disbelief: "and yet".

毎まい日にち練れん習しゅうした。それなのに、負まけた。

I practiced every day. And yet I lost.

How to form it

Sentence。それなのに、+ what clashes with it

It opens a new sentence. In casual talk it is often just なのに.

Before it: Something that ought to lead somewhere: effort, a promise, a precaution, a good reason.
After it: How things are, or how they turned out. Not "let's" or a request.
Tone: Mostly a grievance: it isn't fair, it makes no sense. Sometimes plain amazement.
Where you'll meet it: Conversation and writing alike.

In use

A

新あたらしいパソコン、どう？

How's the new computer?

B

高たかかったんだよ。それなのに、もう調ちょう子しが悪わるい。

It cost a lot. And yet it's already acting up.

何なん度ども説せつ明めいした。それなのに、同おなじ間ま違ちがいがまた起おきた。

I explained it again and again. And yet the same mistake happened again.

三さん時じ間かんも並ならんだんだよ。なのに、売うり切きれだって。

I stood in line for three whole hours. And yet they tell me it's sold out.

なのに, between friends.

この店みせは駅えきから遠とおい。それなのに、いつも客きゃくでいっぱいだ。

This restaurant is far from the station. And yet it is always packed.

No complaint here. You can't figure it out.

Close neighbours

のにN4

The same "and yet" inside one sentence.

毎まい日にち練れん習しゅうしたのに、負まけた。

Even though I practiced every day, I lost.

でも・しかしN5

A plain "but": two facts that differ, and no complaint. しかし is the written one.

毎まい日にち練れん習しゅうした。でも、負まけた。

I practiced every day. But I lost.

それでもN4

"Even so": something holds, or someone goes ahead, in spite of it. "Let's" and "I want to" can follow it.

時じ間かんはあまりない。それでも、最さい後ごまで確かく認にんしよう。

We don't have much time. Even so, let's check everything through to the end.

それならN2

"In that case": you take what you have just learned as given and say what you will do or suggest.

今日きょうは無む理りなの？　それなら、明日あしたにしよう。

You can't make it today? Then let's make it tomorrow.

それにしてもN2

"Even so", "still": you grant what was just said, and this is still more than you expected.

八はち月がつだから暑あついのは当とう然ぜんだ。それにしても、今日きょうはひどい暑あつさだ。

Of course it's hot: it's August. Still, today's heat is awful.

Check yourself

1You ran every morning for three months and still came last. Which one says how unfair it feels?

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

外そとは大おお雨あめだ。（　　）、出でかけよう。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

確かく認にんのメールを二に度ど送おくった。それなのに、予よ約やくは入はいっていなかった。

I sent two confirmation emails. And yet, the reservation had not been recorded.

締しめ切きりまで一いっ週しゅう間かんあった。それなのに、彼かれは提てい出しゅつできなかった。

He had a whole week until the deadline. And yet he couldn't hand it in.

昨さく夜やは十じゅう分ぶんに寝ねた。それなのに、まだ眠ねむい。

I got plenty of sleep last night. And yet I'm still sleepy.

外そとは大おお雪ゆきだった。それなのに、店みせは入いり口ぐちの雪ゆきを片かたづけていなかった。

There was heavy snow outside. And yet, the shop had not cleared the snow from its entrance.

彼かの女じょは初はじめて参さん加かした。それなのに、落おち着ついて発はっ表ぴょうしていた。

It was her first time taking part. And yet she gave her presentation calmly.

Compared with similar forms

Ways to say "but"