Concession patterns — “even though,” “although,” “despite” — are a key N3 grammar area. They let you express that something happens contrary to what is expected. This guide covers the main concession patterns with comparison and usage tips.
| Pattern | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ても / 〜でも | Even if / even though | Casual/neutral |
| 〜のに | Even though (contrast / regret) | Neutral |
| 〜にもかかわらず | Despite / regardless of | Formal |
| 〜くせに | Even though (criticism) | Casual, negative nuance |
| 〜ながらも | Although / even while | Written / formal |
〜ても / 〜でも: Even If / Even Though
The most common concession form. Attach ても to the て-form (verbs/い-adj) or でも to nouns and な-adjectives.
Yuka
疲れていても、毎日走っています。
(Even when I’m tired, I run every day.)
Rei
すごい意志の強さ！
(Incredible willpower!)
| Type | Formation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| う verb | 〜って + も | 行っても (even if I go) |
| る verb | 〜て + も | 食べても (even if I eat) |
| い adj | 〜くても | 忙しくても (even if busy) |
| な adj | 〜でも | 元気でも (even if well) |
| Noun | 〜でも | 学生でも (even if a student) |
〜のに: Regretful Contrast
のに expresses disappointment or surprise that something happened despite a condition. It always carries an emotional weight.
Yuka
こんなに練習したのに、試験に落ちた。
(Even though I practiced this much, I failed the exam.)
Reiそれは残念だったね。次は絶対大丈夫！
(That was unfortunate. Next time will definitely be fine!)
| Comparison | ても | のに |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional weight | Neutral | Strong (regret/surprise) |
| Used for rules/facts | Yes | No — personal/emotional |
| Hypothetical | Yes: 「もし〜ても」 | No — refers to real past events |
〜にもかかわらず: Formal Concession
にもかかわらず is a formal written pattern meaning “despite” or “regardless of.” It appears in N3 reading passages and formal writing.
Yuka
雨にもかかわらず、大勢の人が来た。
(Despite the rain, a large number of people came.)
Rei
試験の長文でよく見るパターンだね。
(This is a pattern you often see in exam reading passages.)
| Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|
| 反対にもかかわらず、計画を進めた。 | Despite the opposition, they proceeded with the plan. |
| 困難にもかかわらず、成功した。 | Despite the difficulties, they succeeded. |
〜くせに: Criticism and Complaint
くせに is the “accusatory” version of のに. It expresses complaint or criticism: “even though you’re like that / you do that…”
Yuka
何もしないくせに、文句ばかり言う。
(Even though you do nothing, you do nothing but complain.)
Rei気持ちはわかるけど、言い方に気をつけて。
(I understand the feeling, but be careful how you say it.)
〜ながらも: Simultaneous Concession (Formal)
ながらも means “although/even while” and appears in written Japanese. It is more formal than ても.
| Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|
| 小さいながらも、一生懸命働いた。 | Although small, they worked with all their might. |
| 残念ながらも、断らざるを得なかった。 | Regrettably, I had no choice but to decline. |
Quick Quiz
Choose the best concession pattern:
1. I studied hard but failed — expressing regret. → _____
→ 〜のに
2. A formal report: despite economic difficulties, sales grew. → _____
→ 〜にもかかわらず
3. You’re criticizing someone who talks big but does nothing. → _____
→ 〜くせに
Have a question about JLPT N3? Drop it in the comments below — Yuka reads every one! 💬
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