N3 · Expressions (N3)
くせに: even though — and that annoys me
a reproachful "although"
くせに is のに with an accusation in it: somebody does something they have no business doing.
At a glance
- Remember
- くせに: "although", with a finger pointed at somebody — never for the weather, rarely for yourself.
- Form
- 何も知らないくせにeven though he knows nothing
- Signal words
- 〜くせに
- 〜のくせに
- 〜なくせに
- Trap
- Wrong:雨のくせに、試合は中止にならなかった。Right:雨なのに、試合は中止にならなかった。
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.
The form
| even though he knows nothing | 何も知らないくせに |
| even though it is expensive | 高いくせに |
| even though he is bad at it | 下手なくせに |
| even though he is a child | 子どものくせに |
| even though he said he would come | 来ると言ったくせに |
| compare: neutral | 知らないのに |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
くせに means "even though", with criticism of the person.
自分はやらないくせに、人には文句を言う。He never does it himself, yet he complains about everyone else.
A noun takes の, a na-adjective な before くせに.
子どものくせに、生意気なことを言うな。You're only a child — don't be cheeky.
Both halves have the same subject: the person being criticised.
彼はお金があるくせに、いつも人に払わせる。He has money, yet he always makes other people pay.
For a neutral "although", use のに or けど.
雨なのに、試合は行われた。Although it was raining, the match went ahead.
Example sentences
弟は何も知らないくせに、すぐ口を出す。My younger brother knows nothing, yet he always butts in.
行くと言ったくせに、来なかった。He said he would come, and then he didn't.
歌が下手なくせに、カラオケが大好きだ。She can't sing, yet she loves karaoke.
男のくせに泣くなんて、と言われた時代もあった。There was a time when people said boys shouldn't cry.
忙しいと言うくせに、ゲームばかりしている。He says he is busy, yet all he does is play games.
分かっているくせに、どうして聞くの？You know perfectly well — why are you asking?
7 more example sentences
自分で決めたくせに、文句ばかり言っている。He decided it himself, and now he does nothing but complain.
若いくせに、エレベーターばかり使う。He is young, yet he always takes the lift.
知っていたくせに、教えてくれなかった。She knew all along and did not tell me.
初心者のくせに、偉そうに話す。He is a beginner, yet he talks as if he were an expert.
お金がないくせに、高いものばかり買う。He has no money, yet he only buys expensive things.
嫌いだと言ったくせに、全部食べた。He said he didn't like it, then ate the lot.
約束したくせに、また忘れたの？You promised — and you forgot again?
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English "even though" is neutral, and くせに looks like a stronger version of it. But くせに criticises a person for behaving in a way that does not fit what they are. The rain cannot be blamed for anything, so the neutral のに is needed.
The full explanation
Read it all · about 1 min
くせ is "habit" or "quirk", and くせに means "even though", said with contempt or irritation: 知らないくせに、何でも知っているような顔をする, "he knows nothing, yet he acts as if he knew everything". The speaker finds the contrast not just surprising but wrong.
It attaches like a noun: after the plain form of a verb or an i-adjective, after a na-adjective with な, and after a noun with の: 下手なくせに, 子どものくせに. Both clauses must have the same subject — the person being criticised.
The person criticised is almost never the speaker. 私は学生のくせに would be criticising oneself in an oddly bitter way. And because it accuses, くせに does not belong in polite speech about anyone present; it is talk between people close enough to argue, or talk about somebody absent.
English has no single word for this; it says "even though" and lets the tone carry the rest. Learners who meet くせに as "although" use it neutrally — 雨のくせに出かけた — and sound as if they were scolding the weather. A neutral "although" is のに or けど.
A closer look
くせに and のに
Both say that the result goes against what one would expect. のに carries disappointment or surprise, and it can be about anything: the weather, the trains, oneself. くせに carries contempt, and it is always about a person who ought to know better.
The sentence often ends early: 何も知らないくせに…, "you don't know anything, and yet…". Left like that, it is a complete reproach, and the listener does not need the rest.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the tone is teasing between close friends
くせに can be affectionate: 嬉しいくせに, "you're pleased really, admit it".
本当は行きたいくせに。You really want to go, admit it.
The reproach is that somebody hides a feeling, and between friends exposing it is a joke, not an attack.
Worth knowing (1)
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くせ as a noun
On its own, くせ is a habit, often a bad one: 爪をかむくせ, "a habit of biting one's nails". The idea of something ingrained that does not fit is what くせに builds on.
考えるとき、髪を触るくせがある。I have a habit of touching my hair when I think.
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