くせに

Even though, And yet, Despite

さっき寝ねるって言いってたくせにまだ起おきてるの？

Even though you said that you are going to sleep earlier, are you still up?

Explanation

「〜くせに」 (癖に) means 'even though ...'. The two parts do not fit together, and the speaker sounds critical, annoyed or contemptuous: 「知っているくせに、教えてくれない」 (You know, yet you won't tell me). Attaches to noun + の, adjectives and plain-form verbs.

Mixed up with

「〜のに」: a neutral contrast, mainly surprise, with regret or complaint (薬を飲んだのに治らない).

「〜くせに」: blame and scorn aimed at someone's character or behaviour. It cannot be used for things with no will: you cannot say 「薬を飲んだくせに」.

Both parts need the same subject. It is mostly for criticising 'you' or 'he/she'; used about yourself it is self-mockery.

Examples

若わかいくせに何なにダラダラしているんだ。
Why are you working so sluggishly even though you are young?
自分じぶんだって下手へたなくせに何なに偉えらそうに言いってるんだ。
Despite you also being no pro, why are you talking so high and mighty.
食たべきれないくせにたくさん注文ちゅうもんするのはやめてほしい。
Even though you cannot eat it all, you order a lot. I want you to stop (doing that).
この子こは犬いぬのくせにニャーと鳴なく。
Even though he is a dog, he meows.
昨日きのう休やすんだくせに、なんで知しったかぶりするの？
Why do you pretend to know (what we are talking about) despite having the day off yesterday?
あの人ひとは先輩せんぱいのくせに、いつも僕ぼくにおごらせようとする。
Despite being my senior, he/she always tries to make me pay.
寒さむいくせに「寒さむくない」とやせ我慢がまんするのはやめてください。
Please stop pretending like you're not cold even though you are.
給料きゅうりょうを沢山たくさんもらっているくせに、貯金ちょきんがないらしい。
Despite getting paid a lot, I have heard that he has no savings.
休やすみで時間じかんがあるくせに、家いえの手伝てつだいを何なにもしない。
Even though it is your day off, you don't help at all with the housework.
暑あつがりなくせに、あの人ひとは毎日まいにちセーターを着きて仕事しごとに行いく。
Despite hating the heat, that person wears a sweater to work everyday.
何なにも知しらないくせに、偉えらそうなことを言いうのはやめてください。
Despite not knowing anything, you surely act high and mighty. Please just stop.
「男おとこのくせに泣なくな」って言いわれるけど、たまには泣ないていいと思おもう。
I am told 'you are a man, don't cry,' but I think that it is okay to cry from time to time.
お金かねもないくせに、カードで気軽きがるに高たかい物ものを買かうのはやめた方ほうがいいよ。
Even though you have no money, you freely use your credit card to buy expensive things. It would be better to stop (doing that).
本当ほんとうは行いきたいくせに。素直すなおに「行いきたい」って言いえばいいじゃないか。
You really want to go and yet... You should just honestly say 'I want to go,' right?
見みてたくせに、なんで「見みてない」って嘘うそをつくの？なぜ真実しんじつを話はなしてくれないの？
Despite looking, why are you lying and saying 'I didn't.' Why won't you just tell me the truth?

Mixed up with

「〜のに」: a neutral contrast, mainly surprise, with regret or complaint (薬を飲んだのに治らない).

「〜くせに」: blame and scorn aimed at someone's character or behaviour. It cannot be used for things with no will: you cannot say 「薬を飲んだくせに」.

Both parts need the same subject. It is mostly for criticising 'you' or 'he/she'; used about yourself it is self-mockery.

Examples

若わかいくせに何なにダラダラしているんだ。
Why are you working so sluggishly even though you are young?
自分じぶんだって下手へたなくせに何なに偉えらそうに言いってるんだ。
Despite you also being no pro, why are you talking so high and mighty.
食たべきれないくせにたくさん注文ちゅうもんするのはやめてほしい。
Even though you cannot eat it all, you order a lot. I want you to stop (doing that).
この子こは犬いぬのくせにニャーと鳴なく。
Even though he is a dog, he meows.
昨日きのう休やすんだくせに、なんで知しったかぶりするの？
Why do you pretend to know (what we are talking about) despite having the day off yesterday?
あの人ひとは先輩せんぱいのくせに、いつも僕ぼくにおごらせようとする。
Despite being my senior, he/she always tries to make me pay.
寒さむいくせに「寒さむくない」とやせ我慢がまんするのはやめてください。
Please stop pretending like you're not cold even though you are.
給料きゅうりょうを沢山たくさんもらっているくせに、貯金ちょきんがないらしい。
Despite getting paid a lot, I have heard that he has no savings.
休やすみで時間じかんがあるくせに、家いえの手伝てつだいを何なにもしない。
Even though it is your day off, you don't help at all with the housework.
暑あつがりなくせに、あの人ひとは毎日まいにちセーターを着きて仕事しごとに行いく。
Despite hating the heat, that person wears a sweater to work everyday.
何なにも知しらないくせに、偉えらそうなことを言いうのはやめてください。
Despite not knowing anything, you surely act high and mighty. Please just stop.
「男おとこのくせに泣なくな」って言いわれるけど、たまには泣ないていいと思おもう。
I am told 'you are a man, don't cry,' but I think that it is okay to cry from time to time.
お金かねもないくせに、カードで気軽きがるに高たかい物ものを買かうのはやめた方ほうがいいよ。
Even though you have no money, you freely use your credit card to buy expensive things. It would be better to stop (doing that).
本当ほんとうは行いきたいくせに。素直すなおに「行いきたい」って言いえばいいじゃないか。
You really want to go and yet... You should just honestly say 'I want to go,' right?
見みてたくせに、なんで「見みてない」って嘘うそをつくの？なぜ真実しんじつを話はなしてくれないの？
Despite looking, why are you lying and saying 'I didn't.' Why won't you just tell me the truth?

くせに

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

くせに

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

Tested once in past papers