～くせに
～くせに expresses blame/criticism: 'even though.../despite...'. Used when speaker is annoyed. Casual but appears in N1 for nuance.
彼は知っているくせに知らないふりをした。
He pretended not to know despite knowing.
N1 Grammar guide · group 20 of 29
JLPT N1 grammar, group 20
15 grammar points, each with what it means and example sentences.
Practise this group～にもかかわらず
～にもかかわらず means 'despite/in spite of...'. Very formal. Connects contrasting facts. Follows noun/na-adj + である.
彼は金持ちであるにもかかわらず、質素な生活を送っている。
Despite being rich, he leads a simple life.
～に備えて
～に備えて means 'in preparation for/in case of...'. Used with disasters, emergencies, future events. Follows noun.
地震に備えて、家具を固定しておくべきだ。
You should secure furniture in case of an earthquake.
～とはいえ
～とはいえ means 'although.../even so...'. Used to concede a point before stating a contrast. More formal than けど/けれど.
彼は貧しいとはいえ、幸せそうだ。
Although he is poor, he looks happy.
彼は貧しいとはいえ、学ぶ意欲を失わない。
Although he is poor, he doesn't lose his desire to learn.
～でありながらも
～でありながらも is an emphatic form of でありながら. Means 'even though.../despite being...'. も adds emphasis to the contrast. Very formal.
彼は社長でありながらも、部下に頭が上がらない。
Even though he is president, he can't stand up to his subordinates.
～であるばかりか
～であるばかりか means 'not only...but also...'. Emphatic version of だけでなく. Used to add surprising additional information.
彼は天才であるばかりか、常識人でもある。
He is not only a genius but also a man of common sense.
彼は天才であるばかりか、努力の鬼でもある。
He is not only a genius but also a demon of effort.
～だけ～ても
～だけ～ても means 'no matter how much.../even if...'. Emphasizes that despite doing A to the fullest, B doesn't happen or B still happens.
この薬は飲むだけ飲んでも、副作用が出る。
No matter how much of this medicine you take, side effects will occur.
～そうで...ない
～そうで...ない means 'contrary to appearance/although it seems...'. Expresses that reality differs from expectation.
この仕事は簡単そうで、気が抜けない。
Although this job looks easy, you can't let your guard down.
～であるにしては
～であるにしては means 'for someone who is.../considering that...'. Used when reality doesn't match what's expected from the status.
彼は医者であるにしては、血を見るのが苦手だ。
For someone who is a doctor, he is bad with blood.
～ない限り
～ない限り means 'unless.../as long as...not'. Used for conditions that must be met. More emphatic than なければ.
この薬は飲まない限り、発作を防げない。
Unless you take this medicine, you can't prevent attacks.
～かねない
～かねない attaches to the Vます stem and warns that an undesirable outcome might occur. More formal than かもしれない; implies a real risk the speaker perceives.
一歩間違えれば、取り返しのつかない失敗になりかねない。
One wrong step might result in an irreversible failure.
～たりとも
'Not even one [unit].' Always negative. Counter+たりとも+negative. Very formal/literary.
一秒たりとも無駄にできない大事な試験だ。
Not even one second can be wasted in this important exam.
～ほどのことはない
'No need to go so far as to / not serious enough to warrant.' V辞書形+ほどのことはない.
試験に落ちたくらいで、人生を諦めるほどのことはない。
Just because of a failed exam, there's no need to give up on life.
～をものともせず
'Undaunted by / without being daunted by.' Shows the subject overcomes hardship fearlessly. N+をものともせず.
困難な状況をものともせず、チームは目標を達成した。
Undaunted by the difficult circumstances, the team achieved its goal.
～一方だ
'Continues to only [do/become]; an unbroken trend in one direction.' V辞書形+一方だ.
格差が広がる一方だ、社会の不満が高まっている。
Inequality keeps widening and social discontent is rising.