connective N3 common casualpolitewritten
にしては — for / considering
にしては
Meaning
- for ~ / considering ~ — measures something against the standard X would lead you to expect, noting it doesn't match
Key sentence
初めてにしては、上手だ。
For a first try, that's good.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun / plain clause + にしては | N ／ Plain + にしては | 子供にしては (for a child) |
Examples
新人にしては、よく頑張っている。
For a newcomer, he's doing really well.
12月にしては暖かい日が続く。
For December, the warm days keep coming.
When you can't use it
- The result must run *contrary* to what the standard predicts — にしては always carries surprise. The standard X has to be concrete and known (初めて, 新人, 12月); it can't be a vague degree.
Easily confused with
にしても は = measure against a standard, も = even-if concession. にしては judges 'for / considering' against a known benchmark (surprising mismatch); にしても concedes 'even if / even granting.' 割には Both mean roughly 'considering,' but にしては anchors to a concrete standard X (プロにしては), while 割には compares against a proportional expectation (値段の割には).
See にしては in real sentences
Jengo shows にしては the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar, A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar.