Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
A。それなのに B。(~sorenanoni)

A。それなのに B。(~sorenanoni)

Short explanation:

Express contrast or a contradiction between two situations or facts; 'even though', 'despite', 'but still'.

Formation:

A。それなのに B。

Examples:

彼は頭がいい。それなのに、試験に落ちた。
Kare wa atama ga ii. Sore nanoni, shiken ni ochita.
He is smart. Despite that, he failed the exam.
私は早く起きた。それなのに、バスに遅れた。
Watashi wa hayaku okita. Sore nanoni, basu ni okureta.
I woke up early. Even though, I was late for the bus.
昨日は晴れていた。それなのに、彼は傘を持っていた。
Kinou wa harete ita. Sore nanoni, kare wa kasa wo motte ita.
It was sunny yesterday. Despite that, he had an umbrella.
彼女は運動が苦手だ。それなのに、マラソンを走ることにした。
Kanojo wa undou ga nigate da. Sore nanoni, marason wo hashiru koto ni shita.
She is not good at sports. Even though, she decided to run a marathon.

Long explanation:

The A。それなのにB。grammar point is used to express contrast, contradiction or unexpectedness between two situations or facts. It can be translated as 'even though', 'despite', or 'but still' in English. The formation is simple, with A and B representing the two contrasting or contradicting statements.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: A。それなのに B。(~sorenanoni)

Japanese Grammar Point: A。それなのに B。(~sorenanoni)

それなのに(sorenanoni)

1. Introduction

それなのに is a Japanese conjunctive phrase meaning "and yet," "even so," or "despite that." It is used to express a contrast between two statements, where the second statement (B) is unexpected or contrary to what would be anticipated from the first statement (A).


2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

  • それなのに indicates a strong contrast or unexpected result.
  • It is used when the outcome differs from what was expected based on the prior information.

Structure

A。それなのに B。
  • A: A statement or situation.
  • それなのに: Conjunctive phrase meaning "and yet" or "despite that."
  • B: An outcome or observation that is unexpected given statement A.

Formation Diagram

[Statement A].
↓
それなのに
↓
[Unexpected Result B].

3. Comparative Analysis

Similar Grammar Points

Expression Meaning Usage
しかし However General contradiction or contrast
でも But Casual contradiction
それでも Even so Emphasizes persistence despite obstacles
なのに Even though Used within a sentence to express contrast
Differences:
  • それなのに specifically emphasizes that the result is unexpected based on the previous statement.
  • それでも often implies persistence despite the situation.
  • しかし and でも are more general and less emphatic.

4. Examples in Context

Example 1 (Informal)

Japanese:

彼はたくさん勉強した。それなのに、試験に落ちた。

English:

He studied a lot. And yet, he failed the exam.

Example 2 (Formal)

Japanese:

天気予報では晴れだと言っていた。それなのに、雨が降り始めた。

English:

The weather forecast said it would be sunny. Even so, it started to rain.

Example 3 (Conversational)

Japanese:

新しいスマホを買った。それなのに、もう壊れてしまった。

English:

I bought a new smartphone. And yet, it's already broken.

Example 4 (Written)

Japanese:

彼女は約束した。それなのに、現れなかった。

English:

She promised. Despite that, she didn't show up.

5. Cultural Notes

Politeness and Formality

  • それなのに can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
  • It is appropriate in spoken and written Japanese.

Idiomatic Expressions

  • それなのに is often used to express frustration or disappointment due to unexpected results.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistakes

  1. Misusing similar conjunctions:
    • Confusing それなのに with だから (therefore) which indicates a cause-and-effect rather than contrast.
  2. Incorrect placement:
    • Placing それなのに within a sentence rather than at the beginning of the contrasting statement.

Tips

  • Mnemonic Device: Think of "A happened. Even so, B." where B is surprising given A.
  • Remember: それなのに starts a new clause that contrasts with the previous one.

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • それなのに is used to express an unexpected result contrasting with the prior statement.
  • It translates to "and yet," "even so," or "despite that."
  • Appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. Fill in the blank: 彼は運動が嫌いだ。______、毎日ジムに通っている。
    • A) だから
    • B) それなのに Answer: B) それなのに
  2. True or False: それなのに can be used to indicate a cause-and-effect relationship. Answer: False

By understanding and practicing それなのに, you can effectively express contrasts and unexpected outcomes in Japanese, enhancing the depth and nuance of your communication.

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