〜くせに: 'Even Though' (with Criticism/Blame)
What it means
〜くせに connects two clauses that clash — "even though X, Y" — exactly like のに. The difference is attitude: くせに is never neutral. It always says, in effect, "you have no business being like Y, given X," dripping with blame, contempt, or annoyance.
ヤッタンは答えを知っているくせに、教えてくれない。
ヤッタンは こたえを しっている くせに、おしえて くれない。
Yattan won't tell me, even though he knows the answer.
The speaker is clearly annoyed at Yattan.
弟は子供のくせに、生意気なことを言う。
おとうとは こどもの くせに、なまいきな ことを いう。
My little brother is so cheeky for a kid.
子供のくせに = 'even though (he's only) a kid' — scornful.
モチは下手なくせに、いつも自信たっぷりだ。
モチは へたな くせに、いつも じしん たっぷりだ。
Mochi is full of confidence, even though he's bad at it.
下手な → な-adjective takes な before くせに.
Because the tone is harsh, くせに is casual speech — you use it with friends, family, or to grumble, not in polite or formal situations.
How to form it
Attach くせに to the plain form of the word before it. Watch the joining particle for nouns and な-adjectives:
| Word type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | plain form + くせに | 知っているくせに (even though he knows) |
| い-adjective | plain form + くせに | 弱いくせに (even though he's weak) |
| な-adjective | 〜な + くせに | 下手なくせに (even though he's bad at it) |
| Noun | 〜の + くせに | 子供のくせに (even though he's a kid) |
The two clauses must describe the same subject — the person being criticized. 知っているくせに教えてくれない works because he both knows and refuses to tell. You cannot use くせに to link two different people's actions.
More examples
先生のくせに、そんな簡単な漢字も読めないの？
せんせいの くせに、そんな かんたんな かんじも よめないの？
You can't even read such an easy kanji, and you call yourself a teacher?
先生のくせに — biting reproach at someone who should know better.
自分が悪いくせに、ヤッタンは謝らない。
じぶんが わるい くせに、ヤッタンは あやまらない。
Yattan won't apologize, even though it's his own fault.
You can also end a sentence on くせに, leaving the criticism hanging — very common when grumbling:
本当は行きたいくせに。
ほんとうは いきたい くせに。
(You say no, but) you actually want to go.
〜くせに。 alone implies 'and yet you pretend otherwise' — teasing or accusatory.
くせに vs のに
This is the contrast that matters most at N3. Both mean "even though," but:
- 〜のに is neutral — it expresses surprise or disappointment about anything, and the two clauses can have different subjects: 雨が降っているのに、出かけた ("Even though it's raining, I went out").
- 〜くせに is judgmental — it adds criticism, scorn, or blame, and the clauses must share the same subject (the person you're knocking).
So 知っているのに教えてくれない is a plain statement of "he knows yet won't tell." Swap in くせに and you load it with resentment: "he knows, the jerk, and still won't tell." When the surprising thing is just a fact (weather, a situation), only のに works — see 〜のに.
Common mistakes
- Using くせに for yourself. くせに criticizes someone, so turning it on yourself sounds odd. Say 知っているのに言えなかった ("even though I knew, I couldn't say it"), not 知っているくせに for your own actions.
- Using くせに for a neutral fact. "Even though it's raining, I went out" is about weather, not a person to blame — use のに: 雨が降っているのに出かけた. くせに here is wrong.
- Two different subjects. くせに needs one shared subject. ヤッタンは勉強したくせに、モチは遊んだ (two people) is wrong — use のに, or restructure.
- Wrong joining particle. It's noun + のくせに and な-adjective + なくせに — 子供のくせに (✓), not 子供くせに; 下手なくせに (✓), not 下手くせに.
Quick recap
- 〜くせに = "even though," but always critical — blame, scorn, or annoyance.
- Attach to plain forms; noun + のくせに, な-adj + なくせに.
- Both clauses share the same subject (the person criticized).
- vs のに: のに is neutral and any-subject; くせに is harsh and same-subject.
- It's casual, and can stand alone at sentence end: 〜くせに。
Your turn
Choose くせに or のに and the correct joining particle.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between くせに and のに?
Both mean 'even though,' but のに is neutral surprise or disappointment and works for any subject, while くせに always adds criticism or scorn and requires both clauses to share the same subject (the person being blamed).
Can I use くせに about myself?
Normally no. Because くせに criticizes the subject, using it for your own actions sounds strange. Use のに instead: 知っているのに言えなかった ('even though I knew, I couldn't say it').
How does くせに attach to nouns and な-adjectives?
Noun + の + くせに (子供のくせに) and な-adjective + な + くせに (下手なくせに). Verbs and い-adjectives just take the plain form: 知っているくせに, 弱いくせに.
Can くせに end a sentence?
Yes. 本当は行きたいくせに。 ('You actually want to go, though') leaves the criticism hanging — a common, teasing or accusatory way to grumble in casual speech.