Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Expresses criticism or reproach towards someone or something that acts or is in a state contrary to what is expected or known, highlighting a contradiction.
🎯 Primary Function
To point out a contradiction between a state/fact and an action/attitude, often with a strong sense of dissatisfaction, contempt, or mild anger.
📋 Grammar Structure
Plain form (Verb, い-Adjective) + くせして
Plain form (な-Adjective – drops な) + な/であるくせして
Noun + の/であるくせして
*な-adjectives often use 「な」, nouns often use 「の」 in informal speech.
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Rarely used due to its informal and often critical nuance.
Informal Situations
Commonly used among close friends, family, or when expressing strong negative feelings towards someone.
Written Language
Can be used in informal writing like personal emails, diaries, or fiction, but avoided in formal or academic writing.
Spoken Language
Frequently used in casual conversations.
💡 Common Applications
Criticizing someone for not living up to their position or knowledge.
Used when someone who should know better or is in a certain position acts in a way that contradicts that.
Example: 日本語が話せるくせして、全然外国人観光客を助けようとしないね。 (Even though he can speak Japanese, he doesn’t try to help foreign tourists at all.)
Pointing out hypocrisy or inconsistency in someone’s actions.
Used when someone says one thing but does another, or acts contrary to their own stated principles.
Example: 「ダイエット中だ」って言うくせして、いつもお菓子ばっかり食べてるじゃないか。(You say you’re on a diet, but you’re always eating snacks!)
Expressing dissatisfaction with someone’s attitude despite their abilities or state.
Used to show displeasure when someone acts carelessly or arrogantly despite possessing a certain ability or being in a certain condition.
Example: 子供のくせして、そんな生意気な口をきくもんじゃない。(You’re just a child, you shouldn’t talk so impolitely!)
Frequency
Moderately frequent in informal spoken Japanese.
Difficulty
Intermediate to Advanced (N2). The basic meaning is simple, but understanding the nuance and appropriate context is crucial.
Example Sentences
学生のくせして、全然勉強しないなんてどういうこと？
You’re a student, yet you don’t study at all? What’s going on?
知っているくせして、教えてくれなかったの？ひどい！
You knew, yet you didn’t tell me? That’s terrible!
彼は口では「大丈夫」と言うくせして、顔は真っ青だった。
He said “I’m fine,” but his face was completely pale.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Strongly critical/reproachful tone.
Unlike simple contrastive particles, 「くせして」 carries a negative emotional weight, expressing dissatisfaction or contempt.
Example: できるくせして、やらないのは問題だ。(It’s a problem not to do it even though you can.) – This is a statement of fact. vs. できるくせして、やらないなんて！(You can do it, yet you won’t?! How dare you!) – This expresses strong reproach.
Primarily used for people.
While sometimes used for objects (like the camera example), it is most frequently used to criticize the actions or attitudes of people.
Example: 性能がいいくせして、デザインが悪い。(Its performance is good, but the design is bad.) – Possible but less common. vs. 彼は頭がいいくせして、考え方がおかしい。(He’s smart, but his way of thinking is strange.) – Very common usage.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it in formal situations or towards superiors.
✅ Use 「～のに」 or 「～というのに」 instead for a less critical or more neutral tone, or rephrase completely.
「くせして」 implies criticism and is considered impolite when used with people you need to show respect to.
❌ Confusing it with simple contrast.
✅ Remember 「くせして」 always implies a *negative* judgment or reproach about the contradiction.
If you just want to state a contrast without criticism, use 「～のに」 or 「～が」.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Low. It is a casual and often impolite expression.
Social Situations: Used among peers, close friends, family, or when complaining about someone who is absent or someone you have a negative relationship with.
Regional Variations: The core meaning and nuance are generally standard, though regional dialects might have variations in the ending particle or similar expressions.
🔍 Subtle Differences
くせして vs. ～のに
「くせして」 adds a strong nuance of criticism, reproach, contempt, or dissatisfaction towards the subject for acting contrary to expectations. 「～のに」 simply expresses a contrast or unexpected result, which can sometimes imply dissatisfaction but doesn’t inherently carry the same critical weight.
When to use: Use 「くせして」 when you want to strongly criticize or express indignation about the contradiction. Use 「～のに」 for a more neutral statement of contrast or unexpected outcome.
くせして vs. ～というのに
「～というのに」 is similar to 「～のに」 and can also express dissatisfaction or surprise at a contradictory situation, but it is generally more formal and less directly critical of the subject’s character or action than 「くせして」.
When to use: Use 「くせして」 for direct, informal criticism of the person/subject. Use 「～というのに」 for a slightly more formal or general expression of surprise/dissatisfaction about a situation.
undefined
undefined
When to use: undefined
📝 Conjugation Notes
Requires the plain form before it. Nouns and な-adjectives require 「の」 or 「な/である」 respectively, though 「な/である」 is less common in spoken 「くせして」.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced “kuse shite”. The 「し」 sound is like “shi” in “ship”.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「くせ」 (kuse) as a “habit” or “peculiarity”, implying that the contradictory action is a bad habit or a frustrating peculiarity of the person. 「～のくせに」 is a slightly more common and arguably stronger version, often contracted to 「くせして」 in speech.
Vocabulary List
全然
zenzen
not at all
助ける
tasukeru
to help
観光客
kankoukyaku
tourist
ダイエット中
daietto chuu
on a diet
お菓子
okashi
snacks, sweets
子供
kodomo
child
生意気
cheeky, impudent
Kanji List
全然
ぜんぜん
not at all
観光客
かんこうきゃく
tourist
子供
こども
child
間違い
まちがい
mistake
性能
せいのう
performance
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
undefined
Practice Exercises
姉は料理が___、全然手伝ってくれない。
上手なくせして
上手なくせに
上手なくせから
上手なくせだから
彼は忙しい___、いつも会社の飲み会に参加している。
くせに
というのに
くせして
ので
4 Views
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.