〜のわりに~no wari ni
No wari ni (〜のわりに) means “surprisingly, considering”.
Considering how cheap it is, the food at this restaurant is delicious.
Use 「〜のわりに」 to compare an expectation set by a price or situation with a surprisingly different result.
In the course
How it works
Seeing 500 yen, how much food do you expect? The actual meal is generous. First, compare expectation with reality.
The price or quality mentioned first sets an expectation, but reality is surprising. Think of it as “for …, surprisingly …”.
First, see how the basis for the judgment connects: nouns take 「の」, な-adjectives take 「な」, and い-adjectives connect directly.
Verbs connect to 「わりに」 in the plain form. The first clause gives the situation; the second gives a result that seems out of proportion to it.
This expectation comes from the speaker’s judgment, so others may not share it. The pattern does not mean that the first clause causes the second.
The result can be better or worse than expected. What matters is the gap between the expectation set by the reference and the result.
In the examples, the low price sets the expectation, but the taste and satisfaction exceed it. 「の」 follows the noun 「500円」.
Example sentences
- このkono店miseはwa安いyasuiわりwariに、ni、料理ryouriがgaおいしいです。oishiidesu。
Considering how cheap it is, the food at this restaurant is delicious.
In a conversation
- Aこの学割のランチセット、どうですか。
A: How is this student-discount lunch set?
- B値段が安くてお得なわり
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Although this restaurant is cheap, the food is delicious.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
このホテルは駅から近い____、宿泊料金が手ごろです。
For being close to the station, this hotel has reasonable rates.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜のわりにsurprisingly, considering