connective N2 common casualpolitewritten
それなのに — and yet
それなのに
Builds on 〜のに
Meaning
- and yet / even so / despite that — the following result runs against what the previous sentence led you to expect, usually with a note of dissatisfaction
Key sentence
一生懸命勉強した。それなのに試験に落ちた。
I studied as hard as I could. And yet I failed the exam.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sentence-initial, joining to the preceding sentence | [expectation-setting sentence]。それなのに [contrary result]。 | 約束した。それなのに来なかった |
Examples
もう春だ。それなのに今日は雪が降っている。
It's spring already. And yet it's snowing today.
何度も注意した。それなのに彼は同じミスを繰り返す。
I warned him over and over. Even so, he keeps repeating the same mistake.
When you can't use it
- それなのに carries a tone of complaint or letdown about the unexpected result; for a neutral 'however' with no emotional charge, use しかし.
Easily confused with
〜のに のに joins the two clauses inside one sentence (勉強したのに落ちた); それなのに splits them across two sentences, opening the second — same logic, wider scope. それにしても それなのに says the result outright contradicts the expectation (reproach); それにしても half-accepts the situation and then marvels at how extreme it is. しかし しかし is a neutral, often written 'however'; それなのに adds the emotional sting of an outcome that betrays what you'd reasonably expect.
See それなのに in real sentences
Jengo shows それなのに the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.