Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Considering (X), it is (Y). / For (X), it is unexpectedly (Y).
🎯 Primary Function
To express a judgment or observation that is contrary to the standard, expectation, or premise set by the preceding noun or clause. It always conveys a sense of surprise or unexpectedness.
📋 Grammar Structure
Noun / V (Plain Form) + にしては
I-Adjective (Plain Form) + にしては
Na-Adjective (Plain Form, without な or だ) + にしては
V/Adj (Negative Plain Form) + にしては
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in polite conversation, reviews, and analytical essays, though in very academic writing, more formal comparative phrases might be preferred.
Informal Situations
Very common in daily conversation to express mild surprise or comparative judgment.
Written Language
Appears frequently in casual writing, articles, and reviews where the author expresses a personal judgment.
Spoken Language
Highly frequent, often used to offer a subtle critique or a strong compliment.
💡 Common Applications
Judging performance based on status or reputation.
Used when the observed fact (unstable pitch) contradicts the expected high standard (professional singer).
Example: プロの歌手にしては、音程が不安定だ。
Expressing surprise based on age or experience.
Used to express surprise that a person is calm despite their lack of experience (first time abroad).
Example: 初めて海外に来たにしては、物怖じしない。
Evaluating cost or condition against a standard.
Used to note the unexpected good condition of a house, given its age (50 years old).
Example: 築50年の家にしては、とてもきれいだ。
Frequency
High (Common in both spoken and written communication)
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
初めて作ったにしては、この料理はとても美味しい。
Furigana: はじめてつくったにしては、このりょうりはとてもおいしい。
Romaji: Hajimete tsukutta ni shite wa, kono ryōri wa totemo oishii.
English: Considering it was the first time making it, this dish is very delicious.
Example #2
彼は病気だったにしては、元気そうだ。
Furigana: かれはびょうきだったにしては、げんきそうだ。
Romaji: Kare wa byōki datta ni shite wa, genki sō da.
English: Considering he was sick, he looks quite energetic.
Example #3
プロの選手にしては、今回のミスは信じられない。
Furigana: プロのせんしゅにしては、こんかいのミスはしんじられない。
Romaji: Puro no senshu ni shite wa, konkai no misu wa shinjirarenai.
English: For a professional athlete, this mistake is unbelievable.
Example #4
このアパートは駅に近いにしては、家賃が安い。
Furigana: このアパートはえきにちかいにしては、やちんがやすい。
Romaji: Kono apāto wa eki ni chikai ni shite wa, yachin ga yasui.
English: Considering this apartment is close to the station, the rent is cheap.
Example #5
３月にしては、今日は暖かすぎる。
Furigana: さんがつにしては、きょうはあたたかすぎる。
Romaji: Sangatsu ni shite wa, kyō wa atatakasugiru.
English: Considering it is March, today is too warm.
Example #6
あの店は有名にしては、サービスがあまり良くない。
Furigana: あのみせはゆうめいにしては、サービスがあまりよくない。
Romaji: Ano mise wa yūmei ni shite wa, sābisu ga amari yokunai.
English: Considering that restaurant is famous, the service isn’t very good.
Example #7
彼が作ったにしては、できあがりが雑だ。
Furigana: かれがつくったにしては、できあがりがざつだ。
Romaji: Kare ga tsukutta ni shite wa, dekiagari ga zatsu da.
English: Considering he made it, the finish is sloppy.
Example #8
このゲームは発売から時間が経ったにしては、人気が衰えていない。
Furigana: このゲームははつばいからじかんがたったにしては、にんきがおとろえていない。
Romaji: Kono gēmu wa hatsubai kara jikan ga tatta ni shite wa, ninki ga otoroe te inai.
English: Considering the time that has passed since its release, the popularity of this game has not waned.
Example #9
初めての海外旅行にしては、彼女はとても落ち着いている。
Furigana: はじめてのかいがいりょこうにしては、かのじょはとてもおちついている。
Romaji: Hajimete no kaigai ryokō ni shite wa, kanojo wa totemo ochitsuite iru.
English: Considering it’s her first trip abroad, she is very calm.
Example #10
小学生にしては、彼の意見は大人びている。
Furigana: しょうがくせいにしては、かれのいけんは大人（おとな）びている。
Romaji: Shōgakusei ni shite wa, kare no iken wa otonabite iru.
English: For an elementary school student, his opinion is quite mature.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Must Express an Unexpected Contrast or Surprise
The key function of にしては is to introduce a contradiction. The expectation set by the premise (ベテラン/Veteran) is violated by the result (遅い/slow).
Example: 彼はベテランにしては、判断が遅い。
The Premise Sets a Standard or Criterion
The standard (東京のレストラン/Tokyo restaurant) is implicitly high, making the observation (安い/cheap) unexpected, which is why にしては is used.
Example: 東京のレストランにしては、値段が安い。
Followed by the Speaker’s Subjective Judgment
The following clause (the result) is always a subjective evaluation or judgment by the speaker, often containing evaluative words like おいしい (delicious), 遅い (slow), or すごい (amazing).
Example: 子供の絵にしては、色使いがプロ並みだ。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 夏にしては、今日は暑い。
✅ Replace にしては with わりに（は）.
Do not use にしては for expected or logical results. It must express an unexpected contrast. (e.g., “The weather is hot for summer” is expected, so use わりに).
❌ プロでしたにしては、下手だ。
✅ Attach にしては directly to the Noun/Plain form.
Sometimes learners mistakenly use the polite form (ます form) or inappropriate particles before にしては. It should always follow the standard modifying form.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to Polite. The judgment itself can sometimes be negative or critical, so context and tone are important.
Social Situations: Used when comparing an observed fact with a known standard (e.g., comparing a person’s skill to their title, or a product’s price to its quality).
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese (used nationwide).
🔍 Subtle Differences
にしては vs. わりに(は) (wari ni wa)
にしては emphasizes a stronger sense of surprise or unexpectedness, often implying the speaker finds the discrepancy somewhat strange or regrettable. わりに(は) is more objective and simply states a proportion or ratio.
When to use: Use にしては when you feel surprised or judgmental about the result. Use わりに(は) for a neutral statement of fact about a ratio or proportion.
にしては vs. にもかかわらず (ni mo kakawarazu)
にもかかわらず means “despite X” and focuses on X not hindering Y. にしては focuses on X setting an expectation that is contradicted by Y. にもかかわらず is often used for circumstances (e.g., Despite the rain, we went out).
When to use: Use にしては when X is a standard for evaluation. Use にもかかわらず when X is an obstacle or condition that was overcome.
📝 Conjugation Notes
When attaching にしては to a noun, no connecting particle (like の) is needed. When attaching to verbs or adjectives, the plain (dictionary/ta/nai) form is used. The most frequent form is Noun + にしては.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce にしては smoothly as a single grammatical unit, with a slight emphasis on the unexpected result that follows. The ‘shi’ should be crisp.
🧠 Memory Tips
Relate にしては to the English phrase “In spite of being X…” or “For X, it’s [surprisingly] Y.” The “wa” emphasizes the contrast, highlighting the unexpected outcome.
Other Grammar
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