「この車、ナビついてないの?」
=Kono kuruma navi tsuite naino?
= This car doesn’t have a navigation system?
「免許持ってないくせに!」
= Menkyo motte nai kuseni!
= You don’t even have a driver’s license. (So you have no right to complain.)
Hi everybody,
I will teach you how to use くせに ( = 癖に = kuseni) today.
準備はいい?(= Junbi wa ii?) Ready?
くせに means “although” / “despite” / ” even though” / “even if”.
We use くせに when we accuse / tease/ criticize someone.
It shows speaker’s contempt, dissatisfaction.
It is similar to のに ( = noni)
In case you haven’t seen my のに ( = noni) lesson, please go check it later.
Compare to のに(=noni), くせに(=kuseni) is more negative, stronger and judgmental.
Though it is not a bad word and you hear it often in conversation, you should be careful who you use it with and when to use it.
For example, if you say,
犬なのに日本語を教えるの?
= Inu nanoni nihongo wo oshieruno?
= Do you teach Japanese despite being just a dog?
I know I get a bit hurt but It is acceptable. However, if you say
犬のくせに日本語を教えるの?
= Inu no kuse ni nihongo wo oshieru no?
= Do you teach Japanese despite being a dog?
(You are just a dog and you are telling me that you teach Japanese?)
It sounds very condescending and looking down on me. If you say that, I might bite you!
Grrrrr :-x
You can also use くせして= 癖して( = kuseshite) instead of くせに = 癖に ( = kuseni). But today I will just focus on くせに ( = kuseni)
How to form :
noun + の( = no) +くせに( = kuseni)
*男のくせに = otoko no kuseni = even though you are a man, for a man, as a man, despite being a man,
Ex. 彼は男のくせに甘いものが好きだ。
= Kare wa otoko no kuse ni amaimono ga sukida.
= For a man, he likes sweets.
Note : This sentence implies “Men shouldn’t/don’t eat sweets because sweets are for women.”
Ex. あの子は、子供のくせに大人びた話し方をする。
= Anoko wa kodomo no kuse ni otonabita hanashikata wo suru.
= He(she) talks like an adult although he(she) is a mere child.
Ex. マギー先生は、日本語の先生のくせに「薔薇」という漢字を書けないんですか?
= Maggie sensei wa nihongo no sensei no kuseni “bara” to iu kanji wo kakenain desu ka?
= Though you are a Japanese teacher, you can’t write the kanji “薔薇 = bara = rose(s)”, Maggie Sensei?
No I can’t! And so what??
Ex.お金持ちのくせにけちけちしないで!
= Okanemochi no kuse ni kechikechi shinaide!
= Don’t be stingy. I know you are rich!
Ex.大きい会社のくせに設備が整っていない。
= Ookii kaisha no kuse ni setubi ga totonotte inai.
= It is a big company but it is poorly equipped.
Ex. 彼は、医者のくせに煙草を吸っている。
= Kare wa isha no kuse ni tabako wo sutte iru.
= He is a doctor but he smokes.
Negative form :
Ex. 医者でもないくせに。
= Isha demo nai kuseni.
= (You aren ‘t even a doctor (so don’t talk/act like a doctor, you have no right to do~))
= As if you were a doctor!
Note : We usually use this form when we refer to people (or animals), groups or entities.
We don’t say
X Ex. 12月のくせに暖かい。
= Juunigatsu no kuseni atatakai.
Instead, we use(な)のに ( = (na)noni)
Ex. 12月なのに暖かい。
= Juunigatsu nanoni atatakai.
= It is warm for December.
i-adj form + くせに ( = kuseni)
*大きいくせに= ookii kuseni = even though someone is big, despite the fact something is big
Ex. 彼は体が大きいくせに何もできない。
= Kare wa karada ga ookii kuse ni nani mo dekinai.
= Despite the fact he is big, he can’t do anything.
na-adj な ( = na) form + くせに ( = kuseni)
*下手なくせに = hetana kuseni = Even though someone is bad at something
Ex. 彼は、歌が下手なくせに歌手になりたい。
= Kare wa utaga hetana kuse ni kashu ni naritai.
= Despite being bad at singing, he wants to be a singer.
verb basic form + くせに ( = kuseni)
*知っているくせに = shitteiru kuseni = even though someone knows, even if someone knows, although someone knows
Ex. 彼は、私の気持を知っているくせに無視をする。
= Kare wa watasih no kimochi wo shitte iru kuse ni mushi wo suru.
= Although he knows how I really feel about him, he ignores me.
Ex.
A: 「彼、まだ日本語で100まで数えられないんだって。」
= Kare mada nihongo de hyaku made kazoerarenain datte.
= You know I heard he still can’t count up to one hundred in Japanese.
B: 「自分だって1年前は10までも数えられなかったくせに。」
= Jibun datte ichinen mae wa juumade mo kazoerarenakatta kuseni.
= You couldn’t even count up to ten a year ago either!
Ex.
A: 「おやつばっかり食べると太るよ。」
= Oyatsu bakkari taberu to futoruyo.
= If you keep eating sweets, you will get fat.
B: 「自分だっていつも食べてるくせに!」
= Jibun datte itsumo tabeteru kuseni!
= You always eats sweets, too. (Look who’s talking!)
As I said, it often involves negative feelings, but we also use it when we tease someone.
Ex.
A: 「もう、あんな人、大嫌い!」
= Mou anna hito daikirai!
= I hate that guy!
B: 「まだ好きなくせに」
= Mada sukina kuseni.
= (You’re just saying that.) I know you still like him.
Ex.
A: 「彼女はすぐにやきもちを焼くんだ。」
= Kanojo wa suguni yakimochi wo yakunda.
= She gets jealous so easily.
B :「嬉しいくせに!」
= Ureshii kuseni!
= I know you are happy about it.
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Ex. 朝、たくさん食べたくせにもうお腹がすいたの?
= Asa takusan tabeta kuse ni mou onaka ga suita no?
= Even though you ate a lot this morning, are you already hungry?
Note : You don’t usually useくせに ( = kuseni) when you are talking about yourself.
Ex. 朝、たくさん食べたくせにもうお腹がすいた。(not natural)
= Asa takusan tabeta kuse ni mou onaga suita.
= Although I ate a lot this morning, I am already hungry.
Instead, we use のに ( = noni)
朝、たくさん食べたのにもうお腹がすいた。
= Asa takusan tabeta noni mou onaka ga suita.
マギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
今から、「薔薇」という漢字を書く練習をしてきます!じゃあね!
= Ima kara “bara” toiu kanji wo kaku rennshu wo shitekimasu. Jaane!
= I go practice writing the kanji “薔薇 = ばら = bara= rose(s)” now. See you!
This lesson is translated in Spanish. Our wonderful friend, Orti, volunteered to translate along with a mini lesson on kuseni.
I posted on Facebook.
くせに( = kuseni) in Spanish Click here
くせに( = kuseni) mini lesson in Spanish Click here
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24 Comments
Hi Maggie sensei,
I have a question about this sentence.
今から、「薔薇」という漢字を書く練習をしてきます!じゃあね!
I don’t understand why 〜てきます is added to the sentence. I have read your lesson about 〜ていく+〜てくる.
But why not just say 「薔薇」という漢字を書く練習をします? I don’t see how 〜てくる adds anything to it.
Unless… I can only guess that you are implying “I will practice writing the kanji and then come back”?
Hi Dennis,
Of course you can say 書く練習をします。but what I meant was I will practice writing the kanji and will be back to this site.
You often use that form when you talk to someone on blog, twitter, Facebook…etc.
はい、いつものありがとうございます!
どういたしまして、Dennis!
Hi Maggie-sensei,
I found this example sentence interesting.
彼は、私の気持を知っているくせに無視をする。
At first I thought I understood it perfectly, but I really didn’t until I read your English translation. Then I got it.
My translation before I read yours was “He knows how I am feeling (maybe sick/unhappy) but he ignores it”.
I didn’t know it means “He knows how I feel ABOUT HIM, but he still ignores ME”
There is nothing in the sentence that indicates this, so I find it interesting that a Japanese person would naturally understand it because that is their native language/culture/mindset.
This is one of those things that I can only learn from coming across it in real life or your blog.
Hajimemashite.
Konnichiwa, Maggie Sensei.
Sumimasen kedo,
[医者でもないくせに]
Woudln’t it translate to “You aren’t even a doctor.” as opposed to “You are even a doctor.” ?
Oh you are right. Thank you for pointing out the mistake. I didn’t realize it until now.
この文例を三回書いたくせに同じタイポを二回してしまった。レッスンの前にたらふく食べたほうがよかったね。
“Asa takusan tabeta kuse ni mou onaga suita no?” x2
“onaka ga”
@Zetsuboumanadeshi
ありがとう!!ごはん、もっと食べないと…
ああっ…わかった。ありがとうございました先生(^ν^)
@Diladina
どういたしまして!
Konbanwa maggie sensei..
Thank you so much for putting a lot of effort on this website. Really luv it so much.
I have a question, i’m not really clear about ‘jibun datte’ wording. This sentence,
= Jibun datte itsumo tabeteru kuseni!
= You always eats sweets, too. (Look who’s talking!)
Can i change to ‘anata mo itsumo tabeteru kuseni’. Is this sentence correct? TQ ^ ^
@Diladina
Hello Diladina! Hajimemashite!
自分だって(=jibun datte) + V
This だって is to emphasize 自分 (in this case “you”= あなた(=anata)) and yes, you can say
自分も食べてるくせに。
or
あなたも食べてるくせに。
It means the same as も but compared to も, だって(=datte) is often used when you complain something.
You can talk about yourself using だって
私も一生懸命がんばっています。
= Watashi mo isshou kenmei ganbatte imasu.
= I am also working hard.
→ 私だって一生懸命がんばっています。
= Watashi datte isshoukenmei ganbatte imasu.
This is so clear now, thank you very much for the lesson
@Kashern
Hi Kashern!
I am glad to hear it’s clear now.
Hello,
I’ve started studying japanese last december, and I just found out about this website today. I have to say, I really loved your lessens sensei.
Not only they’re easy to understand but we also get to laugh xD お世話になります!!
@Wissam
Hello Wissam!
Welcome to our site! I am glad you found us.
こちらこそ、よろしくね!
I really enjoyed the lesson! Thank you so much Maggie Sensei :D!
@ninipana
Thank you for the nice comment,ninipana❤ I am glad to hear you enjoyed the lesson!
I have small question
医者でもないくせに。 why is demo why is not ja nai or deha nai?
This isvery useful thank you!
@PukiPuki
You can say 医者ではないくせに(=Isha de wa nai kuseni) /(more casual) 医者じゃないくせに(=isha ja nai kuseni) as well.
~でもない is “not even ~” and it sounds stronger.
wow so fast! thank you ^___^
Have a nice day!
@PukiPuki
Haha, I was in front of the computer. You’re welcome! またね!:)