なのに

Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

and yet; but; despite that

Used at the beginning of a clause to express contrast or unexpected result, similar to 'and yet' or 'but'. Often follows a statement of fact or situation.

彼かれは一いっ生しょう懸けん命めい勉べん強きょうした。なのに、試し験けんに落おちた。
He studied very hard. And yet, he failed the exam.
天てん気き予よ報ほうは晴はれだった。なのに、雨あめが降ふってきた。
The weather forecast said it would be sunny. But it started raining.

Usage patterns

〈名めい詞し〉なのにdespite being a ~
子こ供どもなのに、大人おとなみたいな話はなし方かたをする。
Even though he's just a child, he talks like an adult.
〈形けい容よう詞し〉なのにeven though (something is) ~
好すきなのに、素す直なおになれない。
Even though I like him, I can't be honest about it.
〈事こと〉。なのに、〈事こと〉。used to start a new sentence expressing an unexpected or disappointing contrast with what was just said
一いっ生しょう懸けん命めい準じゅん備びした。なのに、失しっ敗ぱいしてしまった。
I prepared really hard. And yet, I still failed.

Related words

でもN5
でも is a general, everyday word for 'but/however' usable in most contexts, while なのに carries a stronger emotional sense of 'despite that' and often implies surprise or disappointment.
しかしN4
しかし is a formal, neutral 'however' used mainly in writing or formal speech, whereas なのに is colloquial and emotionally charged.

Don't confuse with

のに
のに attaches directly after a verb or plain-form adjective to mean 'even though', while なのに is used after nouns and na-adjectives (with な) or stands alone at the start of a new sentence.

Word family

それなのにN2
and yet; but even so; nevertheless

Etymology

Derived from the copula だ (da) in its adnominal form な (na) combined with the particle のに (noni), meaning 'although'. The initial だ is often omitted in modern usage, leaving なのに as a fixed conjunction.