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JLPT N2Grammar
~くせに

even though, despite, and yet

Beginner
15-20 min
common
Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Critical tone expressing disapproval or contradiction.

Formation

[Verb/い-adj/な-adj/Noun] + くせに

Examples

知らないくせに、知ったふりをする。

Shiranai kuse ni, shitta furi wo suru.

Even though he doesn't know, he pretends to know.

子供のくせに、生意気だ。

Kodomo no kuse ni, namaiki da.

Despite being a child, he's cheeky.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Often has negative or critical nuance.

Study Tips

Memory Aids

  • くせ = habit → despite (critical)

Practice Tips

Be careful of critical tone.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated:

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