Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
のに presents an established fact that runs contrary to expectation, while ても marks a hypothetical or conditional concession. The key distinction is whether the dependent clause is already true (上手なのにめったに弾きません) or merely imagined (吸ってもいいですか). Swapping them sounds wrong: you would not say 高いても to describe a steak you have already eaten.
- のに Use のに when the first clause is an established fact that makes the second clause surprising.
- ても Use ても when the first clause is hypothetical or conditional, not yet a settled fact.
のに noni
Even though/Despite
Contrary to everybody’s expectation based on the sentence preceding [x], the proposition in the sentence following [x] is the case.
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あの人はピアノが上手なのにめったに弾きません。
He is good at piano, but seldom plays.
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このステーキは高いのに美味しくない・美味しくありません。
In spite of the fact that this steak is expensive, it isn't delicious.
ても temo
Even if
Even if; although | [x] is used when that which is expressed in the main clause is not what is expected from the content of the dependent ([x]) clause.
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A:煙草を吸ってもいいですか。 B:はい、いいです。
A: May I smoke? B: Yes, you may.
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どんなに丈夫でも体には気をつけた方がいい。
No matter how healthy you are, you’d better take good care of yourself.
のに and ても are both JLPT N4 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.