JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – The difference between “〜わりに” and “〜にしては”

Table of Contents

1. The difference between”〜わりに” and “〜にしては”
2. AわりにB
3. AにしてはB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comments

Q: Can “〜わりに” and “〜にしては” be used interchangeably?

A: Both expressions compare a fact (A) with what would normally be expected from it.
Their meanings are similar, but the basis for comparison differs. Let’s take a closer look.

AわりにB (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
Compared to the degree that would normally be expected from the fact A, the result is B

[Rule]
[V] Verb plain form + わりに(は)
[A] い adjective plain form + わりに(は)
[Na] な adjective + わりに(は)
[Na] な adjective + である + わりに(は)
[N] Noun + の + わりに(は)
[N] Noun + である + わりに(は)

[Point]
Used when the speaker’s expectation does not match the actual result.
It often conveys a sense of surprise or evaluation.

[Commonly Used With]
① Words expressing degree or range
値段ねだん(price), 味あじ(taste), 年齢ねんれい(age), 心配しんぱいする(worry), 勉強べんきょうする(study), etc.
→ Frequently used with expressions that do not have a clear standard and may vary depending on the person.

② Evaluations of appearance or impression
若わかい(young), かっこいい(handsome), 美人びじん(beautiful), etc.
→ Often used with words that express subjective evaluations such as appearance or impression.

[Examples]
ダイエットを始はじめると言いっていたわりによく食たべてるね。
Despite saying you were going to start a diet, you eat quite a lot.

この店みせは有名ゆうめいなわりにいつでも予約よやくが取とれます。
Despite being famous, this restaurant always has available reservations.

この店みせは値段ねだんのわりにおいしくないね。
This restaurant isn’t very tasty considering its price, is it?

“〜わりに” is used with abstract expressions that involve range or degree.

[Examples]
ここの料理りょうりは安やすいわりにとてもおいしいです。
The food here is very tasty for such a cheap price.
⇒ “Cheap” does not indicate a specific price and can vary depending on the person, so it is abstract.

たくさん勉強べんきょうしたわりにいい点数てんすうではありませんでした。
I didn’t get good grades despite studying a lot.
⇒ “A lot” is an expression with an unclear degree.

AにしてはB (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
Compared to what is generally imagined or expected from the fact A, the result is B (B contains some kind of evaluation)

[Rules]　
[Ｖ] Verb Plain form＋にしては
[Ｎ] Noun＋にしては

[Point]
・Used when something differs from general expectations or social standards.
・The comparison is not based on the speaker’s personal prediction, but on commonly shared standards.
・It cannot be used with adjectives or words expressing abstract scales (such as young, handsome, price, taste, length, weight, etc.).

[Examples]
中国ちゅうごくに3年ねんも住すんでたにしては木村きむらさんの中国ちゅうごく語ごはあまり上手じょうずじゃないです。
Despite having lived in China for three years, Mr. Kimura’s Chinese isn’t very good.

1月がつにしてはあまり寒さむくないね。
It’s not very cold for January, is it?

山本やまもとさんは大人おとなにしては、趣味しゅみが子供こどもっぽいです。
Mr. Yamamoto’s hobbies are childish for an adult.

“〜にしては” is used when the fact itself is not certain.

Q：あの人ひと、初はじめて見みた。新入しんにゅう社員しゃいんかな。
A：どうだろう、でも新入しんにゅう社員しゃいんにしては落ち着お　ついてるね。
Q: “I saw that person for the first time. Is he a new employee?”
A: “I’m not sure, but he seems pretty calm for a new employee.”
⇒ It is not certain whether he is really a new employee, but the speaker is comparing him to the general image of a new employee.
 
Q：今日きょうは夕方ゆうがたから雨あめらしいよ。
A：そうなの？でも雨あめが降ふるにしては空そらがきれいだね。
Q: “I heard it’s going to rain this evening.”
A: “Really? But the sky looks too clear for it to rain.”
⇒ It is not certain whether it will actually rain, but the speaker is comparing the sky to the general image of what it looks like when it is going to rain.

Let’s Compare

In the following cases, either expression can be used naturally.
However, the difference lies in what the speaker is using as the basis for comparison.

[Examples]
ここは都会とかいのわりに人ひとが少すくないです。　
ここは都会とかいにしては人ひとが少すくないです。
Despite being in the city, there are few people here.

Now, let’s consider the difference between the two.

“〜わりに” is an expression that compares something based on the speaker’s own expectation. It compares the actual situation with the speaker’s feeling that “If it’s a city, there should be more people,” and expresses the gap—namely, that there are fewer people than expected. In other words, it is a subjective comparison.

On the other hand, “〜にしては” compares something based on general standards or social images. It compares the actual situation with what is generally assumed about “a typical city” and evaluates it as having fewer people than usual. This is a comparison with a general standard.

Expression	What is being compared
〜わりに	The speaker’s expectation
〜にしては	A general image or social standard

[A わりに B]
A = fact
B = compared to what the speaker expects from that fact (more than expected or less than expected)

[A にしては B]
A = fact
B = compared to what is generally imagined or expected from that fact

In addition, words that refer to specific times, such as months or dates, can be used with either expression.

[Example]　
◯ 4月がつにしてはまだ少すこし寒さむいね。
◯ 4月がつのわりにまだ少すこし寒さむいね。
It’s still a bit chilly for April, isn’t it?
⇒ “April” refers to a specific time period.

Summary

[AわりにB]

• An expression that compares something with the speaker’s expectation and shows whether it is more or less than expected.
• It is based on a subjective standard.
• It can be used together with abstract words that express degree or range.

[AにしてはB]

• An expression that compares something with general expectations or social standards.
• The comparison is based not on a personal prediction, but on a generally accepted standard.
• It is also used when talking about something whose factual status is uncertain.

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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