のにeven though; for doing
のに is "even though", said with feeling: surprise, disappointment, a complaint. After a verb, the same two kana can also be "for doing": what something is handy, needed or used for.
even though
Even though I took medicine, my head still hurts.
after a noun
Even though it was Sunday, my father went off to work.
for doing
These shoes are good for long walks on rainy days.
Even though
Plain form + のに
飲んだのに, 高いのに, 来ないのに. A noun or a な-adjective takes な: 日曜日なのに, 暇なのに. In the past it is 休みだったのに.
For doing
Verb in the dictionary form + のに + 便利／いい／必要／使う
Only the dictionary form: 洗うのに使う.
Which のに?
Even though I read this book, I don't remember any of it.
What follows goes against the first half: even though.
It took me three days to read this book.
What follows says what the reading took: for doing.
"For doing" needs a dictionary-form verb before it, and after it a word for handy, good, needed or used, or for the time or money something takes. Otherwise it is almost always "even though".
Even though: it should have been different
The first half is a fact, and from it you would expect something else. のに puts your feeling about that into the sentence.
This bag was expensive, and yet it broke almost at once.
Even though I practiced for a long time, I ended up losing the match.
Even though my younger brother has plenty of free time, he won't help with the housework.
Even though she is busy, she volunteers every week.
Not a complaint. You are impressed.
のに or けど?
けど and が are the plain "but". They only set two facts side by side.
It's raining, but the children are playing outside.
Two facts. No feeling either way.
Even though it is raining, the children are playing outside.
You'd expect them indoors. You are surprised, or you don't approve.
After のに comes how things are or how they turned out. A request or a suggestion can't follow.
Not said: 雨なのに、
(Even though it's raining, let's go.)
雨だけど、行きましょう, or 雨でも行きましょう.
Stopping at のに
People often stop at のに and leave the letdown unsaid. せっかく, "after going to the trouble", often comes with it.
I heard the tickets are already sold out.
What? And I made a point of coming early.
After I went to the trouble of making it.
Said when someone won't eat what you cooked.
For doing: what something is for
Here の turns the verb into "doing" and に is "for". English says "for …ing" or "to".
のに便利handy for
This dictionary is handy for looking up technical terms.
のに使うuse for
This brush is for washing narrow bottles.
のに必要need for
My father needs glasses to drive safely.
のに…かかるit takes … to
It takes twenty minutes to walk to the station.
With a noun there is no の, only に: 旅行に便利, 料理に使う.
Close neighbours
けど・がN5
The plain "but" inside a sentence, with no feeling attached.
The rent is low, but it is far from the station.
ても・でもN4
"Even if", and a calm "even though". It covers what hasn't happened yet, and a request can follow it.
Even if the roads are busy, please come by six.
くせにN3
"Even though" with open blame for the person.
My younger brother has plenty of free time, and he still doesn't help with the housework at all.
After "if", のに is "if only": it isn't so, and you wish it were.
If I had the money, I'd buy a new car.
ためにN4
"In order to": what a person does to reach a goal. After のに comes what helps, what is needed or how long it took.
I study Japanese every day in order to study abroad.
Check yourself
1What does this mean?
このかばんは、
Choose an answer to see why.
2You failed an exam you had worked hard for. Which one says how let down you are?
Choose an answer to see why.
3Which one fits?
今日は
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
Even though it is already spring, it is snowing today.
Even though it is near the station, it is very quiet at night.
Even though I got enough sleep, I'm still sleepy.
You need a plug adapter to use this machine overseas.
This website is useful for finding a nearby hospital.
This room is just right for a small-group discussion.