Episode 224 - "kuse ni" (Even though ~ / And yet ~ / In spite of the fact that ~)

Masa Sensei (0:01)

Konnichiwa, welcome to Learn Japanese with Masa sensei! This is episode 224 Today in this episode, we will learn about Kusei ni, which means even though and yet in spite of the fact that. Now let's go! Verb, plain form plus Kusei ni. i adjective plus Kusei ni. na adjective plus na Kusei ni. noun plus no Kusei ni. This means even though and yet in spite of the fact that. So for example, even though someone knows, this is Shitteiru Kusei ni, Shitteiru Kusei ni. Even though someone is just a child, this is Kodomo no Kusei ni, Kodomo no Kusei ni. Even though someone is free, this is Himana Kusei ni, Himana Kusei ni. It's used when someone behaves in a way that is different from what the speaker expects. It often expresses criticism, blame, frustration, or annoyance. In English, it often corresponds to even though and yet in spite of the fact that. There are three core usages. First one is criticizing someone's behavior. Second one is expressing contradictory actions. Third one is complaining about a situation. Now, let's start with the first usage. Criticizing someone's behavior. This is used when someone should naturally act differently but does not. For example, He knew and yet he didn't tell me. To know is しっている, しっている.

So, しる is will know. So, when you are in a state of knowing something, it's しっている.

しっている くせに, he didn't tell me. So, here we will use てふん plus くれなかった. おしえてくれなかった. かれは しっている くせに おしえてくれなかった. かれは しっている くせに おしえてくれなかった. Oshiete kure nakatta. Kare wa shitte irukuse ni oshiete kure nakatta. Kare wa shitteirukuse ni oshiete kurenakatta. She can do it, yet she won't. Can do is できる, できる. This is a potential form of する. So after this, we will put くせに. She won't do is やらない, やらない. かのじょは できる くせに やらない. かのじょは できる くせに やらない.

Let's go to the second core usage. Expressing contradictory actions. This is used when someone's action contradicts what is expected. For example, even though he studies every day, he forgot his homework. To study every day is まいにち べんきょう している.

After this, we will put くせに. まいにち べんきょう している くせに.

Homework is しゅくだい. To forget is ワスレル. まいにち べんきょう している くせに しゅくだいを ワスレた.

Even though he has money, he never spends it. To have money is おかねがある.

To spend money is つかう. So negative form is つかわない. おかねがある くせに ぜんぜん つかわない.

Third usage is つかわない. おかねがある くせに ぜんぜん つかわない. おかねがある くせに ぜんぜん つかわない. Third usage is つかわない. Complaining about a situation. This is used when expressing dissatisfaction about someone's attitude or behavior. For example, He is so arrogant for a child. Child is こども. This is a noun, so it becomes の くせに.

Arrogant is なまいき. こどもの くせに なまいきだ.

Even though he is a beginner, he has a lot of confidence. Beginner is しょしんしゃ. Shoshinsha. Shoshinsha. To have a lot of confidence is Jishin manman. Jishin manman. Shoshinsha no kuse ni Jishin manman da. Shoshinsha no kuse ni Jishin manman da. So くせに is used when the speaker feels annoyed or dissatisfied. Someone act differently from expectations. The speaker criticizes someone's attitude or behavior. Previously we have learned のに. Now what is the difference between くせに and のに? For example, if I say, Kare wa shitteiru kuse ni oshiete kure nakatta. Kare wa shitteiru kuse ni oshiete kure nakatta. This means, He knew, yet he didn't tell me. However, if I say, Kare wa shitteiru no ni oshiete kure nakatta. Kare wa shitteiru no ni oshiete kure nakatta. This means, He knew, but he didn't tell me. Kuse ni expresses criticism, blame, or irritation. However, no ni simply expresses contrast, and is more neutral. Now, let's make some example sentences. Even though she is Japanese, she is not good at kanji. Japanese is Nihonjin, Nihonjin. After this, we will put no kuse ni. Not good at something is Nigate da, Nigate da. Kanojo wa Nihonjin no kuse ni, kanji ga nigate da. Kanojo wa Nihonjin no kuse ni, kanji ga nigate da. Even though he has money, he always splits the bill. To have money is お金がある お金がある After this, we will put くせえに To split money isわりかんにするわりかんにする お金があるくせに いつもわりかんにする お金があるくせに いつもわりかんにする Wari kan ni suru! Wari kan ni suru!

It's mo warikan ni suru.

It's no warikan ni suru. Even though he was free, he didn't help me. Free is ひま ひま ひま, this is not adjective. So when we put together with くせに, くせに becomes ひまなくせに.

To help is せつだう. He didn't help me. We will use てふん plus くれなかった. ひまなくせに せつだって くれなかった. ひまなくせに せつだって くれなかった.

Even though he exercises every day, he doesn't take care of his health. To do exercise is うんどうしている. うんどうしている.

After this, we will put くせえに. Health is けんこう, けんこう.