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]
友達は7時に来ると言っておきながら、全然来なさそうです。
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
海外での生活は貧しいながらも、楽しく生活をしています。
Although life abroad is impoverished, it is still enjoyable.
⇒ Expectation: Since it’s impoverished, life would be difficult
Reality: Life is enjoyable
色々大変ながらも、人への感謝を忘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
楽しい生活ながらも、苦労もあります。
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 “言いつつ”, “思いつつ” and “知りつつ” are commonly used idioms, so it’s useful to remember them.
[Examples]
いつもだめだと思いつつ、食事のあとにアイスを食べてしまいます。
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
友達に悪いと感じつつも予約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
もう寝ると言いつつ、YouTubeを見てしまいます。
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
健康に良くないとは知りつつ、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]
せっかくお店に来たのに閉まっていました。
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
この犬はかわいいのに、よくほえるから怖いです。
This dog is cute, but it barks a lot, which is scary.
⇒ Expectation: The dog is cute
Disappointed feeling: The barking is scary
ここは有名なレストランなのに、あまり高くないですね。
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、誕生日プレゼント!
B:え、別にいいのに!
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
な adjectiveな+である+くせに
[N] Noun+の+くせに
Noun+である+くせに
[Examples]
森さんは成績が良くないくせに、社長に気に入られています。
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
林さんはかわいいくせに、人にひどいことを言います。
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
マリアさんは日本語が上手なくせに、わざと下手に話すときがあります。
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、まだ新人のくせに成績がすごいんだって。
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]
大変ながらもなんとか生活できています。
Even though it’s tough, I’m somehow managing to get by.
大変なのになんとか生活できています。
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が降っていません。
Even though it’s very cloudy, it’s not raining.
春なのに桜がなかなか咲かないですね。
Even though it’s spring, the cherry blossoms still aren’t blooming.
[くせに VS のに]
Let’s look at the difference between these two.
[Examples]
マリアさんは日本語が上手なくせに、わざと下手に話すときがある。
マリアさんは日本語が上手なのに、わざと下手に話すときがある。
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.
A. くせに
あいつは全然学校に来ないくせにおれより成績がいい。
That guy never comes to school, yet his grades are better than mine.
*Since the subject (that guy) not coming to school (a negative point) is being criticized, “くせに” is the correct choice.
A. のに
今日は晴れているのに全然暖かくない。
Even though it’s sunny today, it’s not warm at all.
*Since “sunny” is a verb describing the state, “のに” is the correct choice.
A. ながらも
山田さんはお金持ちながらも狭くて小さい家に住んでいるそうです。
I’ve heard that Mr. Yamada is rich, yet he lives in a small and cramped house.
*Since the fact differs from the expectation that a rich person would live in a large, spacious house, “ながらも” is the correct choice.
A. つつ
いつもダイエットをしようと思いつつお菓子をいっぱい食べてします。
I always think I should go on a diet, but I end up eating lots of snacks.
*Since the speaker regrets not dieting but chooses to eat snacks (not dieting), “つつ” is the correct choice.
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