Page 238 - Basic Japanese

Because it is a non-smoking area, please refrain

from smoking.

5.10. のに no ni

After a verb in the imperfect mood, the expression no ni,

literally ‘to the fact that, at the fact that,’ has two different
meanings: ‘in the process of doing, for the purpose of doing,

in order to do’ and ‘in spite of the fact that…’ The two
meanings are distinguished by context. Often the particle wa
follows no ni in the first meaning, and the whole expression

is frequently followed by a phrase indicating something is

necessary (‘in the process of doing something’). Here are
some examples of the first meaning ‘in the process of’:

日本語を勉強するのに(は)いい本が要ります。

Nihongo o benkyō suru no ni (wa) ii hon ga irimasu.
We need a good book in order to study

Japanese.

アパートを借りるのに5万円かかります。

Apāto o kariru no ni goman-en kakarimasu.
To rent an apartment costs 50,000 yen.

Here are some examples of the second meaning ‘in spite
of the fact that’:

勉強したのに，いい成績がもらえませんでした。
Benkyō shita no ni, ii seiseki ga moraemasen deshita.

Although I studied, I could not get a good grade.

まずいのに食べるんですか。

Mazui no ni taberu n desu ka.