Lesson 13
Contrast (Critical)
- 1 〜くせに ~kuse ni even though (critical) "And yet they still…?" — a "but" with irritation in it.
- 2 〜わりに(は) ~wari ni (wa) considering / for You expected one thing and got another — "for what it is…"
- 3 〜にしては・にしても ~ni shite wa / ni shite mo for a ~ / even if Two forms of one phrase — one shows surprise, the other concession.
- 4 〜というより ~to iu yori rather than The first word wasn't quite right — "more like this than that".
- 5 〜といっても ~to itte mo although I say The word sounds big; the reality isn't — lowering expectations.
- 6 〜じゃなくて・ではなくて ~ja nakute / de wa nakute not A, but B Correcting a mistake — "not that, this".
Lesson check
All 6 forms of this lesson together — pick the right one from its look-alikes, the way the exam does. 6/8 completes the lesson.
🔒
「彼は自分では何もしない＿、人には文句ばかり言う。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:The speaker is irritated.
V + くせに = "even though", with criticism and irritation. にしても makes a concession and doesn't fit here; というより swaps in a better word and といっても lowers expectations.
「この店は値段が安い＿、量が多くておいしい。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:It's cheap, so you didn't expect much — but it turned out well.
Adj + わりに = "considering" (better than expected). くせに criticises a person; といっても lowers expectations.
「日本に来て3か月＿、日本語がとても上手ですね。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Surprise, given only three months.
N + にしては = "for a…" (surprise). にしても means "even if", which doesn't fit praise.
「いくら疲れている＿、あいさつくらいはしよう。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Note 「いくら」 — "however much…".
いくら … にしても = "however … , still". わりに and くせに don't pair with 「いくら」.
「この部屋は涼しい＿、寒い。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:The first word isn't quite right — finding a better one.
Adj + というより = "more … than …" (a better word). といっても lowers expectations; くせに and わりに make no sense here.
「料理ができる＿、卵焼きくらいです。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Sounds big, turns out small.
V + といっても = "I say …, but it's not much". というより swaps in a better word; it doesn't lower expectations.
「すみません、注文したのはコーヒー＿、紅茶です。」(to the server) — fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Correcting a mistake.
N + ではなくて = "not …, but …" (a correction). といっても lowers expectations; にしては and わりに express surprise.
Which sentence is unnatural?
💡 Hint:Can くせに be used to praise?
くせに always criticises; it can't carry praise like "studies hard, well done".
Your score: /8