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N3

More Than Expected: 〜わりに

About 10 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Core meaning

〜わりに means “for …” or “considering …” and shows that the result is different from what would normally be expected. The mismatch may be positive, negative, or neutral depending on the sentence.

  1. Target signal

    このかばんは安いわりに丈夫だ。

    This bag is durable for how cheap it is.

    The result is better than expected for the low price.

    Vocabulary notes
    かばん
    bag
    この
    this
    安いやすい
    cheap; inexpensive

  2. Compare in context

    彼は忙しいわりには元気そうだ。

    He looks energetic for someone who is so busy.

    The speaker contrasts heavy busyness with surprising energy.

    Vocabulary notes
    元気そうげんきそう
    looks lively; looks well
    そうだ
    it seems; I heard that
    忙しいいそがしい
    busy

Section 2 of 3

Compared with にしては

〜わりに is similar to 〜にしては, but it often feels slightly more conversational and can attach naturally to a wider range of clauses. It is common in everyday evaluations, reviews, and spoken explanation.

  1. Target signal

    あの店は有名なわりに、あまり混んでいない。

    That shop is not very crowded for how famous it is.

    わりに presents a mismatch without sounding as formal as にしては.

    Vocabulary notes
    あまり
    not very; not much
    あの
    that; that over there
    ない
    not; there is not

  2. Preview

    この仕事は大変なわりに、学べることが多い。

    This job is tough, but for that very reason there is a lot to learn.

    The second clause gives a positive counterbalance.

    Vocabulary notes
    こと
    thing; matter; fact
    この
    this
    仕事しごと
    work; job

Section 3 of 3

Reading notes

When reading 〜わりに, look for the expectation first, then the result. The sentence is often about contrast, not absolute judgment. That contrast may also reveal the writer’s attitude.

  1. Target signal

    説明は短かったわりに、内容は十分理解できた。

    Even though the explanation was short, I was able to understand the content well enough.

    The outcome is better than the short explanation suggested.

    Vocabulary notes
    できた
    was finished; was made
    内容ないよう
    contents; content
    十分じゅうぶん
    enough; sufficient

  2. Preview

    兄は運動が苦手なわりに、毎日よく歩く。

    Even though my older brother is not good at sports, he walks a lot every day.

    The second clause shows a surprising fact for someone bad at sports.

    Vocabulary notes
    よく
    often; well
    歩くあるく
    to walk
    毎日まいにち
    every day

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how 〜わりに changes the meaning before you check the translation.

このかばんは安いわりに丈夫だ。 彼は忙しいわりには元気そうだ。 あの店は有名なわりに、あまり混んでいない。 この仕事は大変なわりに、学べることが多い。 説明は短かったわりに、内容は十分理解できた。 兄は運動が苦手なわりに、毎日よく歩く。 もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えてください。もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えて

Show English translation

This bag is durable for how cheap it is. He looks energetic for someone who is so busy. That shop is not very crowded for how famous it is. This job is tough, but for that very reason there is a lot to learn. Even though the explanation was short, I was able to understand the content well enough. Even though my older brother is not good at sports, he walks a lot every day.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how 〜わりに changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how 〜わりに changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of 〜わりに in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 5Choose the best context

What does 〜わりに express?

Activity 2 of 5Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (〜わりに).

この＿＿＿は安いわりに丈夫だ。

Activity 3 of 5Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1彼は忙しいわりには元気そうだ。
  2. 2あの店は有名なわりに、あまり混んでいない。
  3. 3このかばんは安いわりに丈夫だ。
Activity 4 of 5Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of 〜わりに in the mini-reading?

Activity 5 of 5Infer from the passage

Cumulative checkpoint: Which reading habit helps you combine this lesson with the earlier grammar?

Mastery check 1/3

What does 〜わりに express?