Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Even though; despite the fact; and yet.
🎯 Primary Function
Expresses criticism, annoyance, contempt, or blame regarding a contradiction between a fact and an action.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (Plain form) + くせに / Noun + の + くせに
I-adjective + くせに
Na-adjective + な + くせに
Verb (Nai-form) + くせに / Noun + ではない + くせに
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Generally avoided as it sounds rude or accusatory.
Informal Situations
Very common among friends or when complaining about someone.
Written Language
Used in social media, casual blogs, or fictional dialogue.
Spoken Language
Highly frequent in daily conversation, anime, and drama.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Criticism
Used to point out someone’s lack of skill relative to their confidence or actions.
Example: 下手なくせに (Even though you’re bad at it…)
Expressing Annoyance
Used when someone is acting as if they know something when they clearly don’t.
Example: 知らないくせに (Even though you don’t know…)
Self-Deprecation
Occasionally used by the speaker to criticize their own behavior or failures.
Example: できないくせに (Even though I can’t do it…)
Frequency
Common in spoken, informal Japanese.
Difficulty
JLPT N3
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
知っているくせに、教えてくれない。
Furigana: しっているくせに、おしえてくれない。
Romaji: Shitte iru kuse ni, oshiete kurenai.
English: Even though he knows the answer, he won’t tell me.
Example #2
自分では何もしないくせに、文句ばかり言う。
Furigana: じぶんではなにもしないくせに、もんくばかりいう。
Romaji: Jibun de wa nani mo shinai kuse ni, monku bakari iu.
English: Despite doing nothing himself, he does nothing but complain.
Example #3
子供のくせに、大人みたいな口を利く。
Furigana: こどものくせに、おとなみたいなきをきく。
Romaji: Kodomo no kuse ni, otona mitai na kuchi o kiku.
English: Even though he’s a child, he talks like an adult.
Example #4
下手なくせに、プロぶっている。
Furigana: へたなくせに、プロぶっている。
Romaji: Heta na kuse ni, puro butte iru.
English: Despite being bad at it, he’s acting like a professional.
Example #5
男のくせに、そんなことで泣くなよ！
Furigana: おとこのくせに、そんなことでなくなよ！
Romaji: Otoko no kuse ni, sonna koto de naku na yo!
English: Even though you are a man, don’t cry over such a small thing! (Note: Traditional/Biased expression)
Example #6
金持ちのくせに、すごくケチだ。
Furigana: かねもちのくせに、すごくケチだ。
Romaji: Kanemochi no kuse ni, sugoku kechi da.
English: Despite being rich, he is very stingy.
Example #7
できないくせに、「できる」と言ってしまった。
Furigana: できないくせに、「できる」といってしまった。
Romaji: Dekinai kuse ni, ‘dekiru’ to itte shimatta.
English: Even though I can’t do it, I accidentally said I could.
Example #8
昨日まで元気だったくせに、今日は病気のふりをしている。
Furigana: きのうまでげんきだったくせに、きょうはびょうきのふりをしている。
Romaji: Kinou made genki datta kuse ni, kyou wa byouki no furi o shite iru.
English: Even though he was energetic until yesterday, today he’s pretending to be sick.
Example #9
若いくせに、すぐ疲れたと言う。
Furigana: わかいくせに、すぐつかれたという。
Romaji: Wakai kuse ni, sugu tsukureta to iu.
English: Despite being young, he complains about being tired immediately.
Example #10
独身のくせに、結婚生活について語っている。
Furigana: どくしんのくせに、けっこんせいかつについてかたっている。
Romaji: Dokushin no kuse ni, kekkon seikatsu ni tsuite katatte iru.
English: Even though he’s single, he’s lecturing me about married life.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Subject Consistency
The subject of both clauses must be the same person.
Example: 知らないくせに、教えようとする。 (He tries to teach even though he doesn’t know.)
Sentence Ending Usage
The sentence can often end with ‘kuse ni’ to leave the criticism implied but strong.
Example: 金持ちのくせに！ (Even though you’re rich!)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using ‘kuse ni’ for inanimate natural objects.
✅ 雨が降っているのに、外に出た。 (Correct) / 雨が降っているくせに… (Incorrect)
‘Kuse ni’ is used for people or things personified. It cannot be used for natural phenomena like rain.
❌ Using ‘kuse ni’ to express thanks.
✅ 忙しいのに、手伝ってくれてありがとう。 (Correct) / 忙しいくせに… (Incorrect for gratitude)
‘Kuse ni’ always carries a negative nuance. You cannot use it to express gratitude.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Informal and potentially offensive. It carries a ‘you have some nerve’ or ‘despite being just a…’ tone.
Social Situations: Often used by superiors to subordinates or among equals to show frustration. Beware of using it based on social categories (e.g., ‘otoko no kuse ni’, ‘kodomo no kuse ni’) as it can sound discriminatory or stereotypical.
Regional Variations: Standard throughout Japan, though the intensity of the ‘bite’ may vary by dialect.
🔍 Subtle Differences
くせに (Kuse ni) vs のに (Noni)
‘Noni’ is a neutral ‘although/despite’. ‘Kuse ni’ is subjective and specifically implies criticism or contempt.
When to use: Use ‘noni’ for facts; use ‘kuse ni’ when you want to complain about someone.
くせに (Kuse ni) vs わりに (Wari ni)
‘Wari ni’ expresses that the result is different from what was expected based on a standard, but it isn’t necessarily negative.
When to use: Use ‘wari ni’ for ‘considering that’ (neutral/positive/negative); use ‘kuse ni’ only for negative criticism.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Nouns require ‘no’, and Na-adjectives require ‘na’ before ‘kuse ni’. Verbs and I-adjectives use plain forms.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Often pronounced with a slight emphasis or a rising tone to express irritation.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Kuse’ (habit). ‘Kuse ni’ implies that someone’s ‘bad habit’ or nature is contradicting their current action. It’s the ‘angry version’ of ‘noni’.
Other Grammar
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.