630 - のに (for)
JLPT N4: のに (for; to)
のに can be used like the word "for" in the sentence, "This pan is good forfrying eggs."
In Japanese, though, the word order gets changed. (Big surprise.)
They say something like: "This pan frying eggs のに good is."
Well, if we want to get really technical, the Japanese would be something like: "This pan は fried egg を make のに convenient is."
Let's see that in an example:
このフライパンは目玉焼きを作るのに便利です。
この フライパン は めだまやき を つくる のに べんり です。
This (frying) pan is good [convenient] for frying eggs.
Literally: “this + frying pan + は + sunny-side up fried egg + を + make + のに + convenient + です.”
Note: A sunny-side-up fried egg is an "eyeball-grill" because it looks like a yellow eye... I guess...
Have you ever noticed that we put -ing on the end of verbs when they come after "for?"
That's because we need a noun after "for."
We can't say: "This pan is good for fry eggs."
We have to say: "This pan is good for frying eggs."
Similarly, we shouldn't say "This pan は fried eggs を make に convenient is."
We should say "This pan は fried eggs を make のに convenient is."
That makes sense because の can be used to turn verbs into nouns. (We recently had a very detailed lesson on this topic: [NDL #608] - Basics: Making Nouns with の.)
☔ Grammar Rules ☔
Put のに after a VERB in its dictionary form:
V る + のに
for VERB-ing
We already saw this in our first example.
It is also possible to put just に after a する-NOUN (i.e. a noun that expresses an action of some kind; a noun that can attach to する):
する-NOUN + に
for NOUN-ing
Here's an example of that:
わたしは日本語の勉強に、フラッシュカードのアプリを使っています。
わたし は にほんご の べんきょう に、 フラッシュカード の アプリ を つかっています。
I use a flashcard app to study Japanese.
Literally: “I + は + Japanese (language) + の + studies + に, + flashcard + の + app + を + am using.”
We don't need to put の before に in this sentence because に has no problem attaching to a NOUN (=勉強). The only reason we put のに after VERBS is to that we can place に after a NOUN (because "VERB + の = NOUN," as we saw in the lesson mentioned earlier.)
On another note, you may be wondering why I translated that sentence as "to study Japanese" instead of "for studying Japanese." Either way would be fine, actually. Perhaps "for studying Japanese" would be a bit closer to the literal meaning of the Japanese. I thought that "to study Japanese" sounded more natural, though.
You will notice that のに is typically preceded by a phrase describing something's purpose or utility. Then it is followed by words meaning "convenient," "necessary," "useful," "use," and so on.
[purpose or utility] + のに + ["convenient," "necessary," "useful," "use," blah blah blah]
For example, we have already seen:
(this pan...) make a fried egg + のに + (is) convenient.
(I...) Japanese studies + のに + am using a flashcard app.
And in the following sentence we have:
(this suitcase...) go on a one-night trip + のに + (is) perfectly suited
このサイズのスーツケースは1泊2日の旅行に行くのにぴったりだ。
この サイズ の スーツケース は いっぱく ふつか の りょこう に いく のに ぴったり だ。
This suitcase size is perfect for a one-night stay somewhere.
Literally: “this + size + の + suitcase + は + one (night's) stay + two day + の + trip / travel + に + go + のに + perfectly suited + だ.”
Sometimes you'll find that のに is followed by the particle は, as in our next two examples:
銀行口座を開設するのには電話番号が必要です。
ぎんこう こうざ を かいせつ する のに は でんわばんごう が ひつよう です。
A phone number is required to open a bank account.
Literally: “bank account + を + open / establishing + do + のに + は + phone number + が + necessary + です.”
格安航空券を探すのには、このサイトが便利です。
かくやす こうくうけん を さがす のに は、 この サイト が べんり です。
This site is convenient for finding cheap airline tickets.
Literally: “cheap/discounted airline tickets + を + look for + のに + は, + this + website + が + convenient + です.”
When のに is followed by は, it is possible to leave out the の.
I explained earlier that putting に after a VERB is not correct grammatically, but it sounds OK in this case. This is because it's understood that the の is being omitted. Saying three particles in a row, のには, is a hassle!
That's my guess as to why it's acceptable, at least...
永住権を取得するには1年以上かかります。
えいじゅうけん を しゅとく する に は いち ねん いじょう かかります。
It takes over one year to acquire permanent residence.
Literally: “permanent residency + を + acquisition + do + には + one year + more than + (it) takes.”
This is one of those grammar points that I have found useful over and over again when trying to express myself in Japanese.
Japanese speak のに convenient です!
So be sure to take your time getting a good understanding of this one.
Noticed any typos we've missed or other issues?
Report them here at this link.
Have questions about something in this lesson? Something not quite clicking yet? Join our discord community and discuss any questions / comments with us and fellow students.
You can join by heading to this link.