despite; even though ~ (甲斐もなく) – Japanese Grammar 甲斐もなく (kai mo naku)

Q: What JLPT level is 甲斐もなく?

JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Q: How do you use 甲斐もなく in a sentence?

Attach 甲斐もなく to the appropriate verb or noun form. Despite; even though ~

Q: Is 甲斐もなく formal or casual Japanese?

甲斐もなく is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

甲斐もなく

N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

kai mo naku

despite; even though ~

とされる to sareru 損なう / 損ねる /損じる sokonau / sokoneru/ sonjiru ばこそ ba koso なり〜なり nari~nari にとどまらず ni todomarazu がてら gatera がましい gamashii ごとき/ごとく/ごとし gotoki/gotoku/gotoshi といったらない to ittara nai というわけではない to iu wake dewa nai に至っては ni ittate wa はどうであれ wa dou de are にかこつけて ni kako tsukete だろうに darou ni ともすれば tomo sureba もさることながら mo saru koto nagara 嫌いがある kirai ga aru ほうがましだ hou ga mashi da ぐるみ gurumi こそ「〜が・けれど」 koso~ga/keredo とされる to sareru 損なう / 損ねる /損じる sokonau / sokoneru/ sonjiru ばこそ ba koso なり〜なり nari~nari にとどまらず ni todomarazu がてら gatera がましい gamashii ごとき/ごとく/ごとし gotoki/gotoku/gotoshi といったらない to ittara nai というわけではない to iu wake dewa nai に至っては ni ittate wa はどうであれ wa dou de are にかこつけて ni kako tsukete だろうに darou ni ともすれば tomo sureba もさることながら mo saru koto nagara 嫌いがある kirai ga aru ほうがましだ hou ga mashi da ぐるみ gurumi こそ「〜が・けれど」 koso~ga/keredo

🃏 Flashcard

甲斐もなく

kai mo naku

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despite; even though ~

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N1

Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Reading kai mo naku

Post ID 51236

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

despite; even though ~

📖 How to use it

Expresses that something is done or happens despite a prior effort or expectation, emphasizing that the effort was wasted or the result is contrary to what was hoped.

Attaches to Attaches to the plain past form of a verb (e.g., 頑張った甲斐もなく) or to a noun + の (e.g., 努力の甲斐もなく).

甲斐もなく is a formal, written expression meaning 'despite (the effort/expectation)' or 'in vain'. It highlights that the outcome is disappointing or meaningless compared to the effort put in. The 甲斐 (worth, effect) is negated with もなく, so it literally means 'without any worth/effect'.

This pattern is typically used in narratives, essays, or formal speech, not casual conversation. It often follows a past tense verb that describes the effort or action that turned out to be futile, or a noun phrase indicating the expected benefit. The sentence usually describes a negative or ironic result.

Because it is a fairly literary pattern, using it in everyday chat might sound overly dramatic. But in writing or formal contexts, it adds a nuanced tone of regret or resignation.

長年練習した甲斐もなく、彼は予選で負けてしまった。

Nagannen renshuu shita kai mo naku, kare wa yosen de makete shimatta.

Despite years of practice, he lost in the preliminaries.

必死に勉強した甲斐もなく、試験に落ちた。

Hisshi ni benkyou shita kai mo naku, shiken ni ochita.

Even though I studied desperately, I failed the exam.

努力の甲斐もなく、計画は失敗に終わった。

Doryoku no kai mo naku, keikaku wa shippai ni owatta.

In spite of all the effort, the plan ended in failure.

Not にもかかわらず甲斐もなく emphasizes that the prior effort was wasted, often with a tone of regret. にもかかわらず simply means 'despite (a fact)' without necessarily implying effort or futility. For example, 雨にもかかわらず試合は行われた (the game was held despite the rain) uses にもかかわらず, not 甲斐もなく, because there's no effort involved.

🎯 Quick Quiz

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甲斐もなく

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Press Hear it and repeat 甲斐もなく three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using 甲斐もなく. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns

may/might; there’s a possibility that ~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern 甲斐もなく mean? ▼

Despite; even though ~

What JLPT level is 甲斐もなく? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use 甲斐もなく in a sentence? ▼

Attach 甲斐もなく (kai mo naku) 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 甲斐もなく formal or casual Japanese? ▼

甲斐もなく is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember 甲斐もなく 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.