JLPT N1・N2・N4 Grammar – Difference between “〜ながら”, “〜つつ”, “〜のに” and “〜くせに”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜ながら”, “〜つつ”, “〜のに” and “〜くせに”
2. 〜ながら
3. 〜つつ
4. 〜のに
5. 〜くせに
6. Let’s Compare
7. Summary
8. Quiz
9. Similar Articles
10. Comments

Q: I want to know the detailed differences between “〜ながら”, “〜つつ”, “〜のに” and “〜くせに”

A: These four expressions are used to convey a ‘paradox.’ Within these words, feelings such as regret or dissatisfaction are included.

Grammar	The meaning of paradox
〜ながら(も)	◯　(Unexpected)
〜つつ(も)	◯　(Regret)
〜のに	◯　(Dissatisfaction / Unexpected)
〜くせに	◯　(Criticism / Contempt / Dissatisfaction)

〜ながら(も) (JLPT N1)

[Usage]
This is used when the expected outcome (naturally assumed) differs from the actual result or fact.

[Rules]

[V] Verb stem＋ながら（も）　*Often used with “state verbs” or “V-ている.”
[A] い adjective＋ながら（も）
[Na] な adjective＋ながら（も）　
　　 な adjectiveな＋であり＋ながら（も）
[N] Noun＋ながら　
　 Noun＋であり＋ながら（も）

[Examples]　
友達ともだちは7時じに来くると言いっておきながら、全然ぜんぜん来こなさそうです。
My friend said they would come at 7 o’clock, but it doesn’t look like they are coming at all.
⇒ Expectation: The friend would come at 7 o’clock
　 Reality: The friend doesn’t seem to be coming

海外かいがいでの生活せいかつは貧まずしいながらも、楽たのしく生活せいかつをしています。
Although life abroad is impoverished, it is still enjoyable.
⇒ Expectation: Since it’s impoverished, life would be difficult
　 Reality: Life is enjoyable

色々いろいろ大変たいへんながらも、人ひとへの感謝かんしゃを忘わすれたくないものです。
Despite various hardships, I do not want to forget to be grateful to people.
⇒ Expectation: Since it’s hard, one would tend to forget to be grateful to others
　 Reality: I still want to remember gratitude

楽たのしい生活せいかつながらも、苦労くろうもあります。
While life is enjoyable, it also has its hardships.　　　
⇒ Expectation: Life is enjoyable
　 Reality: There are hardships too

〜つつ(も) (JLPT N2)

[Usage]
This is used when the speaker regrets or feels negative about a certain action they took, but still ended up performing that action as a result.

[Rule]　
[V] Verb stem＋つつ（も）
*It is often used with expressions of regret like “V-てしまう.
*Phrases like “言いいつつ”, “思おもいつつ” and “知しりつつ” are commonly used idioms, so it’s useful to remember them.

[Examples]　　
いつもだめだと思おもいつつ、食事しょくじのあとにアイスを食たべてしまいます。
Even though I always think it’s a bad idea, I end up eating ice cream after meals.
⇒ Negative feeling: Eating ice cream
　 Result: I end up eating ice cream

友達ともだちに悪わるいと感かんじつつも予約よやくをキャンセルしました。
I canceled the reservation even though I felt bad about it.
⇒ Negative feeling: Canceling the reservation with a friend
　 Result: I canceled it

もう寝ねると言いいつつ、YouTubeを見みてしまいます。
I keep saying I’m going to sleep, but I end up watching YouTube.
⇒ Negative feeling: Saying I’ll sleep but not doing so
　 Result: Watching YouTube

健康けんこうに良よくないとは知しりつつ、タバコがやめられません。
Even though I know it’s bad for my health, I can’t quit smoking.
⇒ Negative feeling: Smoking is bad for health
　 Result: I keep smoking

〜のに　(JLPT N4)

[Usage]
This is used when the result is different from what the speaker expected. Even without explicitly stating the speaker’s feelings, “noni” includes a sense of disappointment or surprise at an unexpected outcome, so even if the phrase following “のに” is omitted, the listener can understand the speaker’s feelings.

[Rules]　
[V] Verb plain form＋のに
[A] い adjective＋のに
[Na] な adjective＋のに
[N] Noun＋なのに

[Examples]
せっかくお店みせに来きたのに閉しまっていました。
I went all the way to the store only to find it closed.
⇒ Expectation: I thought the store would be open
　 Disappointed feeling: The store was closed

この犬いぬはかわいいのに、よくほえるから怖こわいです。
This dog is cute, but it barks a lot, which is scary.
⇒ Expectation: The dog is cute
　 Disappointed feeling: The barking is scary

ここは有名ゆうめいなレストランなのに、あまり高たかくないですね。
Although this is a famous restaurant, it’s not very expensive.
⇒ Expectation: Famous restaurant, so it would be expensive
　 Unexpected result: It’s not very expensive

Ａ：これ、誕生たんじょう日びプレゼント！
Ｂ：え、別べつにいいのに！
A: “Here, this is your birthday present!”
B: “Oh, you didn’t have to!”
⇒ Unexpected: A gave a present
*In this case, the speaker wasn’t expecting a present and is expressing surprise.
*The feeling of surprise, such as “(A) gave me a birthday present,” is implied and omitted after “のに.”

〜くせに　(JLPT N2)

[Usage]
This expresses the speaker’s feelings of dissatisfaction, criticism, or contempt towards someone’s negative traits. Therefore, the sentence involves a third party (the target of dissatisfaction). The speaker holds very negative feelings toward the person.

[Rules]　
[V] Verb plain form＋くせに
[A] い adjective＋くせに
[Na] な adjective＋くせに　
[N] Noun＋の＋くせに　

[Examples]
森もりさんは成績せいせきが良よくないくせに、社長しゃちょうに気きに入いられています。
Mr. Mori doesn’t have good grades, yet the boss likes him.
⇒ Target person: Mr. Mori
　Negative trait: Bad grades
　 Dissatisfaction: The boss likes him

林はやしさんはかわいいくせに、人ひとにひどいことを言いいます。
Ms. Hayashi is cute, yet she says terrible things to people.
⇒ Target person: Ms. Hayashi
　 Dissatisfaction: She’s cute but says terrible things to people

マリアさんは日本にほん語ごが上手じょうずなくせに、わざと下手へたに話はなすときがあります。
Maria is good at Japanese, yet there are times when she intentionally speaks poorly.
⇒ Target person: Maria
　 Dissatisfaction: She’s good at Japanese but speaks poorly on purpose

あの人ひと、まだ新人しんじんのくせに成績せいせきがすごいんだって。
I heard that person is still a newcomer, yet their performance is amazing.
⇒ Target person: Newcomer
　 Dissatisfaction: Their performance is good (implying jealousy)

Let’s Compare

[ながらも VS のに]

These two expressions both convey the opposite of what was expected.
At first glance, they may seem the same, but a subtle difference arises. Let’s compare them using the following examples.

[Examples]　
大変たいへんながらもなんとか生活せいかつできています。
Even though it’s tough, I’m somehow managing to get by.

大変たいへんなのになんとか生活せいかつできています。
Despite it being tough, I’m somehow managing to get by.
⇒ “ながら” simply states the result or fact that “I’m managing to get by.”
　 On the other hand, “のに” conveys the speaker’s feeling of surprise at an unexpected outcome.

When used with words that describe a state, “のに” is typically used.

[Examples]　
すごくくもっているのに雨あめが降ふっていません。
Even though it’s very cloudy, it’s not raining.

春はるなのに桜さくらがなかなか咲さかないですね。
Even though it’s spring, the cherry blossoms still aren’t blooming.

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[くせに VS のに]

Let’s look at the difference between these two.

[Examples]
マリアさんは日本にほん語ごが上手じょうずなくせに、わざと下手へたに話はなすときがある。
マリアさんは日本にほん語ごが上手じょうずなのに、わざと下手へたに話はなすときがある。
Maria is good at Japanese, yet there are times when she intentionally speaks poorly.
⇒ When using “くせに,” it carries a nuance of criticizing Maria herself.
　 However, “のに” expresses surprise at Maria’s unexpected behavior.

Summary

[〜ながら (も) ]

• (Naturally) used when the expected outcome and the actual result or fact differ.

[〜つつ (も) ]

• Used when the speaker regrets or feels negative about a certain action they took, but still chose that action as a result.

[〜のに]

• Used when the actual result is different from what was expected.
• The expression “のに” itself conveys the speaker’s feelings of disappointment or surprise at an unexpected outcome.

[〜くせに]

• A very negative phrase, used to express the speaker’s dissatisfaction or disdain for a person’s bad points, often with a sense of criticism or contempt.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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