[Serie: All About Japanese Particles]
1. Used between two clauses to indicate that they are opposed in meaning: “although, even though, despite the fact that.”
Note: No ni indicates a stronger opposition in meaning than ga (#2, II-1) or keredomo (#28, no. 1).
池田さんは風邪で咳が出るのに、タバコばかり吸っています。
Ikeda-san wa kaze de seki ga deru no ni, tabako bakari sutte imasu.
Even though Ikeda is coughing from a cold, all he does is smoke cigarettes [he is (still) smoking all the time].
山本さんのパーティーには行かないと言ったのに、どうして行くんですか。
Yamamoto-san no pātī ni wa ikanai to itta no ni, dō shite iku-n desu ka.
You said you wouldn’t go to Yamamoto’s party, so why are you going? / Why are you going to Yamamoto’s party when you said you wouldn’t?
*2. Used at the end of a sentence, indicates a feeling of dissatisfaction: “despite the fact that, even though.”
Note: This usage is essentially the same as no. 1, above, except that the second clause isn’t stated outright. (Words in brackets below show only one of various imaginable contexts.)
勉強をしなさいと言ったのに。。。
Benkyō o shinasai to itta no ni …
Despite the fact that I told you to study [you didn’t, and are now in hot water]. / I told you to study!
交通事故を起こさないように気をつけていたのに。。。
Kōtsū-jiko o okosanai yō ni ki o tsukete ita no ni . . .
Even though I tried to be careful so as not to have an accident … [I smashed up the car anyway]. / I was trying my best not to get involved in automobile accident.
3. “To, in order to.”
ここから湖へ行くのに何時間ぐらいかかりますか。
Koko kara mizuumi e iku no ni nanjikan gurai kakarimasu ka.
How long does it take to get from here to the lake? (Lit., In order to get from here to the lake, about how many hours will it take?)
漢字を覚えるのにいい方法を教えてください。
Kanji o oboeru no ni ii hōhō o oshiete kudasai.
Please tell me a good way to learn kanji.
– Source: All about particles – A handbook of Japanese function words –
