くせに
🃏 Flashcard
くせに
kuse ni
Tap to reveal usage
although~; despite the fact that~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
kuse ni
Post ID
50866
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
although~; despite the fact that~
📖 How to use it
Expresses that something happens contrary to what one would expect from a preceding fact, often with a critical or ironic tone.
Attaches to
Attach to the plain form of verbs, adjectives, or the copula (noun + な). For example: 言ったくせに (plain past), 高いくせに (い-adjective), 静かなくせに (な-adjective), 学生のくせに (noun + な).
くせに means 'although' or 'despite the fact that', but it carries a strong feeling of criticism, resentment, or irony. It is used when the speaker thinks the second clause is inappropriate or contradictory given the first. For example, if someone boasts about being rich but never pays for dinner, you might say 'お金があるくせに、払わない' (Even though he has money, he doesn't pay). This pattern is often used in complaints or teasing.
知らないくせに、知ったふりをするな。
Shiranai kuse ni, shitta furi o suru na.
Don't pretend you know when you don't.
学生のくせに、勉強を全然しない。
Gakusei no kuse ni, benkyō o zenzen shinai.
Despite being a student, he doesn't study at all.
高いレストランに連れて行ったくせに、まずいと言った。
Takai resutoran ni tsurete itta kuse ni, mazui to itta.
Even though I took him to an expensive restaurant, he said it was bad.
Not のに
のに is neutral, just states a fact that is contrary to expectation. くせに adds a judgmental tone, often blaming or mocking the subject. Use のに when you want to express simple surprise or disappointment without criticism.
Register
Spoken, often in casual or angry contexts; in formal writing, use のに or にもかかわらず instead.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
くせに
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat くせに three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using くせに. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern くせに mean?
▼
Although~; despite the fact that~
What JLPT level is くせに?
▼
Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use くせに in a sentence?
▼
Attach くせに (kuse ni) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is くせに formal or casual Japanese?
▼
くせに is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember くせに long-term?
▼
Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.