Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 2: 10/23

のにIn order to

Structure

Verb + のに

Details

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About のに

Regarded as a conjunction particle by itself, のに is simply a fusion of the case marking particles の and に. のに has two primary functions in Japanese. It can be used to show that something is the opposite of what is expected for (A) (translated as 'despite'), or it can be used to show that something is required for (A) to be realized (translated as 'in order to'). We will focus on the 'in order to' meaning in this lesson.

To use のに, simply attach it to the base (non-past) form of a verb that you would like to express as being the 'goal', before following it with the conditions required to meet that goal.

Fun Fact

Although のに can be translated as 'despite', or 'in order to', it actually has the same meaning in each of these situations. の nominalizes what comes before it (turning it into a noun-phrase), while に converts that new noun-phrase into a 'location', or 'goal'. In this way, のに always means 'to that which is (A), (B)'.

  • さっき食(た)べたばかりなのに、またお腹(なか)が空(す)いた。
    I just ate earlier, but I am hungry again.
  • 食(た)べるのに時間(じかん)をかけすぎて寝(ね)る時間(じかん)が遅(おそ)くなった。
    I took so long to eat, so I slept at a later time.

Examples

--:--

    本(ほん)を読(よ)むのに眼鏡(めがね)を買(か)った。

    I bought glasses in order to read books.

    背中(せなか)をかくのに孫(まご)の手(て)を使(つか)う。

    I use my backscratcher in order to scratch my back.

    宿題(しゅくだい)をするのに、3時間(じかん)かかる。

    It takes 3 hours in order to do homework.

    食(た)べるのに時間(じかん)がかかりすぎて、昼(ひる)休(やす)みが終(お)わってしまった。

    It took too long in order for me to eat lunch, so my lunch break unfortunately came to an end.

    お茶(ちゃ)を飲(の)むのに必要(ひつよう)なコップがありません。

    I do not have the necessary cup in order to drink tea.

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      のに – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (20 in total)

      • Warrie

        Warrie

        In this example sentence:
        さっき食べたばかりなのに、またお腹が空いた

        I just can’t figure out why there is a な after ばかり.
        The structure for のに is: Verb + のに
        The structure for ばかりis: Verb［た］+ ばかり

        Anyone have an idea?

      • Fuga

        Fuga

        Hey there, @Warrie !

        The sentence you presented is there to compare this grammar point with this one! Since the の nominalizes what comes before it, it is using the structure Noun + な + のに!

        I hope this answers your question!

      • Warrie

        Warrie

        I hit the wrong reply button so therefore the deleted reply above, but totally clear now, thank you!

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