くせに

く

せ

に

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Conjunction/particle expressing criticism, surprise, or dissatisfaction that something is contrary to expectation. Often carries a negative or accusatory tone. Attaches to the plain form of verbs, adjectives, and nouns (with な/の).

彼かれは何なにも知しらないくせに、偉えらそうに話はなす。
He talks arrogantly even though he knows nothing.
あの子こは小しょう学がく生せいのくせに、大人おとなみたいな口くちをきく。
That kid talks like an adult despite being an elementary schooler.

See all 92 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈動どう詞し〉くせにeven though (someone) does/did ~ (used critically)
知しらないくせに、知しっているふりをする。
He pretends to know, even though he doesn't.
〈形けい容よう詞し〉くせにeven though (something/someone) is ~ (used critically)
下手へたなくせに、自じ信しん満まん々まんだ。
He's bad at it, and yet he's totally confident.
〈人ひと〉のくせにeven though (someone) is a ~ (used to criticize someone acting out of place)
子こ供どものくせに、生なま意い気きなことを言いう。
He talks back, even though he's just a kid.

Expressions

くせになるbecome a habit; be addictive; be moreish

Grammar

くせにeven though (with blame)N3

Kanji

癖mannerism, habit, vice

Related words

のに
くせに criticizes or expresses annoyance at a contradiction, while のに is more neutral and can simply express regret or surprise without blame.
ながら
ながら marks a mild, often simultaneous contrast without judgment, whereas くせに carries a critical or accusatory tone.
くせして
くせして is a blunter, more colloquial variant of くせに with the same critical nuance, often heard in casual speech.
だてらに
くせに is a colloquial conjunction meaning 'despite being', attaching to whole clauses, while だてらに attaches directly to a noun of social role and has a more literary, critical tone.
ものの
くせに adds a critical or sarcastic tone to the contrast, while ものの is neutral and simply factual.

Written forms

癖くせに
Kanji spelling is attested but uncommon; learners should prefer the kana form.
クセに
kana-only spelling
Katakana variant; sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.

Etymology

Derived from the noun 癖 (くせ, 'habit') + に, originally meaning 'in the habit of (doing something)'. Over time it grammaticalized into a concessive conjunction with a critical nuance.