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N3

にしては

(Even) considering, (Even) for

彼かれは毎日まいにち漢字かんじの勉強べんきょうをしているにしては全然ぜんぜん漢字かんじを読よめない。

For someone that studies kanji every day, he can't read it at all.

Explanation

「にしては」 means 'for...' or 'considering that...': the first part names a role, age or standard that people have a fixed expectation about, and the second part shows reality does not match it. The speaker is surprised, impressed or disappointed: 「子供にしては、上手に描けたね」 (You drew well for a child); 「彼は日本に住んで3年になるにしては、日本語が下手だ」 (His Japanese is poor for someone who has lived in Japan for three years). It follows nouns or the plain form of verbs.

Mixed up with

「にしては」 mostly follows concrete nouns or facts, and normally not a bare adjective. 「わりに(は)」 takes anything: 「値段のわりに」, 「高いわりに」, 「頑張ったわりに」.

「にしては」 uses what is normal for a role or category as the yardstick. 「わりに」 is about two things that do not match in proportion, such as price and quality, or effort and result.

Examples

  1. あの人ひとは俳優はいゆうにしてはあまりイケメンじゃない。

    Considering he is an actor, he is not very attractive.

  2. 始はじめたばかりにしては結構けっこうじょうずだね。

    Considering you have just started, you are considerably good.

  3. 子供こどもにしては静しずかな方ほうだ。

    She's quiet for a child.

Tested 3 times in past papers

N2 · Jul 2025, Q44N2 · Jul 2018, Q33N1 · Dec 2014, Q33