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Activities: "How to say “even though” in Japanese: のに (noni) and more"

By: Masaru Mito
Associated Articles

These activities are part of our Japanese Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

Activity 1: Complete the sentences

Part 1: 〜ても (temo)

Complete the following sentences using 〜ても.

  • Situation: 先生に聞く[sensei ni kiku](to ask a teacher)

    も、分かりませんでした。
    ___ mo, wakarimasen deshita.
    Even though I asked my teacher, I didn’t understand.

  • Situation: きれい[kirei](clean)

    部屋がも、家賃が高いところには住めません。
    Heya ga ___ mo, yachin ga takai tokoro ni wa sumemasen.
    Even if the room is clean, I can’t live in a place where the rent is high.

  • Situation: いそがしい[isogashii](busy)

    どんなにも、朝ご飯は食べるようにしています。
    Don’nani ___ mo, asagohan wa taberu yōni shite imasu.
    No matter how busy I am, I make sure to eat breakfast.

Part 2: 〜のに (noni)

Complete the following sentences using 〜のに while appropriately changing the tense if necessary.

  • Situation: 早起きする[hayaoki suru](to wake up early)

    のに、もう一度寝てしまいました。
    ___ noni, mōichido nete shimaimashita.
    Even though Kai is still a child, he knows a lot of difficult words.

  • Situation: 子供[kodomo](child)

    カイくんは、まだのに、難しい言葉をたくさん知っている。
    Kai kun wa mada ___ noni, muzukashii kotoba o takusan shitte iru.
    Even though I woke up early, I went back to sleep.

  • Situation: 寒い[samui](cold)

    今日はのに、彼はTシャツを着ている。
    Kyō wa ___ noni, kare wa tīshatsu o kite iru.
    Even though it’s cold today, he is wearing a T-shirt.

Part 3: 〜けど (kedo)

Complete the following sentences using 〜けど.

  • Situation: 苦い[nigai](bitter)

    コーヒーはけど、好きです。
    Kōhī wa ___ kedo, suki desu.
    Although coffee is bitter, I like it.

  • Situation: 混んでいる[konde iru](crowded)

    この店は、いつもけど、今日はお客さんが少ない。
    Kono mise wa, itsumo ___ kedo, kyō wa okyaku san ga sukunai.
    Although this store is always crowded, there are few customers today.

Activity 2: Pick the right form

Select the most appropriate word in parentheses.

  • この問題は難しいから、 ( !分からなくても・!分からないのに・!分からないけど )、大丈夫です。
    Kono mondai wa muzukasii kara (wakaranakute mo / wakaranai noni / wakaranai kedo), daijōbu desu.
    Since this question is difficult, it’s okay even if you don’t understand.
  • 夜 ( !なのに・!だけど )、隣の部屋の人が大声で歌っています。
    Yoru (na noni / da kedo), tonari no heya no hito ga ōgoe de utatte imasu.
    Even though it's nighttime, the person next door is singing loudly.
  • どこに ( !行っても・!行くのに・!行くけど )、友達のことは忘れません。
    Doko ni (itte mo / iku noni / iku kedo), tomodachi no koto wa wasuremasen.
    No matter where I go, I never forget my friends.
  • 大学には、食堂が ( !あるのに・!あるけど )、高いから、私はあまり行きません。
    Daigaku ni wa, shokudō ga (aru noni / aru kedo), takai kara, watashi wa amari ikimasen.
    There is a cafeteria at the university, but it's expensive, so I don't go there often.
  • この映画、ちょっと ( !怖いのに・!怖いけど )、一緒に見ませんか。
    Kono eiga, chotto (kowai noni / kowai kedo), issho ni mimasen ka.
    This movie is a little scary, but would you like to watch it together?
  • え、去年も新しい車を ( !買っても・!買ったのに )。
    E, kyonen mo atarashii kuruma o (katte mo / katta noni).
    What? He bought a new car last year too.
  • 昨日も ( !言っても・!言ったのに・!言ったけど )、資料をメールで送ってくれますか。
    Kinō mo (itte mo / itta noni / itta kedo), shiryō o mēru de okutte kuremasu ka.
    I said it yesterday, but can you send the materials by email?
  • 今日は雨が降っている ( !のに・!それなのに )、遊園地はとても混んでいます。
    Kyō wa ame ga futte iru (noni / sore nano ni), yūenchi wa totemo konde imasu.
    Even though it’s raining today, the amusement park is very crowded.
  • 私は日本で生まれました。 ( !ところが・!けれども )、アメリカで育ちました。
    Watashi wa nihon de umaremashita. (Tokoroga / Keredo mo), amerika de sodachimashita.
    I was born in Japan. However, I was raised in the U.S.

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