Meaning
Compares a result with what you'd normally expect from A and points out a mismatch in either direction: 安いわりにおいしい (better than expected), 勉強したわりに点数が悪い (worse). A is usually a degree or measure: price, age, amount of effort.
Formation
- V普通形 (plain form)＋わりに（は）: 勉強した → 勉強したわりに; 食べる → 食べるわりに; 練習しない → 練習しないわりに
- いA＋わりに（は） — 安い → 安いわりに
- なA＋な＋わりに（は） — 有名 → 有名なわりに
- N＋の＋わりに（は）: 年 → 年のわりに; 値段 → 値段のわりに
When to use it
- Where to use it
- In evaluations of things, people and results "considering…": 値段のわりに質がいい, 年のわりに若く見える. Neutral in tone — fine in conversation and in reviews.
- Where not to use it
- If A is simply a fact without an implied scale, のに is normally clearer: 約束したのに来なかった. わりに evaluates against an expectation and can be critical, but does not inherently express contempt. Direct requests and intentions are not typical of this pattern.
Examples
20 sentences-
この店は安いわりに、量が多くておいしい。
For how cheap it is, this place gives big portions and the food is good.
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父は年のわりに、とても若く見えます。
My father looks very young for his age.
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一生懸命勉強したわりに、点数はよくなかった。
Considering how hard I studied, my score wasn't good.
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この町は有名なわりに、観光客が少ないですね。
For such a famous town, there aren't many tourists.
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彼はよく食べるわりに、全然太らない。
For someone who eats so much, he never gains weight.
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値段のわりには、あまり質がよくない。
For the price, the quality isn't very good.
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このパソコン、古いわりにはよく動くと思わない？
Don't you think this computer runs well for how old it is?
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あまり練習しないわりに、試合ではいつも勝つ。
He hardly practices, yet he always wins his matches.
12 more examples
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駅から近いわりに、家賃はそれほど高くありません。
For a place so close to the station, the rent isn't that high.
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簡単なわりに、時間がかかる作業だ。
It's a simple task, but it takes more time than you'd think.
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このかばんは見た目のわりに、たくさん入る。
This bag holds a lot more than it looks like it would.
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八時間も寝たわりに、まだ眠い。
Even after a full eight hours of sleep, I'm still sleepy.
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兄はたくさん本を読むわりに、漢字をあまり知らない。
For someone who reads so many books, my brother doesn't know many kanji.
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ほとんど何もしていないわりに、彼はいつも疲れたと言う。
For someone who hardly does anything, he's always saying he's tired.
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このホテルは高いわりに、サービスがいまいちだった。
For how expensive this hotel was, the service was mediocre.
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姉は料理が苦手なわりに、お菓子作りは得意だ。
For someone who's not good at cooking, my sister is surprisingly good at baking.
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このアニメは子ども向けのわりに、話がかなり複雑だ。
For a kids' show, this anime has a pretty complicated story.
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体の大きさのわりに、この犬はおとなしい。
For its size, this dog is very gentle.
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この仕事は大変なわりには、給料が安いと思いませんか？
Don't you think the pay is low for how hard this job is?
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準備に時間をかけたわりには、パーティーの客は少なかった。
Considering how much time went into preparing, there weren't many guests at the party.
Important notes
- わりには with は stresses the contrast more. The adverb わりと／わりに ("fairly": わりと簡単だ) is a different use.
- Close to にしては, but わりに freely follows adjectives and abstract measures (年, 値段), whereas にしては follows concrete facts (二千円, 小学生).
Common mistakes
- ✗ この町は有名のわりに、静かだ。 → ✓ この町は有名なわりに、静かだ。 — na-adjectives connect with な; の is only for nouns.
- ✗ 父は年わりに、若く見える。 → ✓ 父は年のわりに、若く見える。 — a noun needs の.
- ✗ 約束したわりに、彼は来なかった。 → ✓ 約束したのに、彼は来なかった。 — a promise has no degree; a contradiction between facts takes のに.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
- ～にしてはにしては follows a concrete fact or status (初めて, 二千円) and rarely adjectives; わりに works with a scale: adjectives, 年, 値段, amount of effort.
- 〜のにのに contrasts two facts, often with frustration (約束したのに来なかった); わりに compares a degree with expectations and reads as a calm evaluation.
- ～くせにくせに normally reproaches a person, including sharp self-criticism; わりに compares with an expected degree and does not itself require contempt.
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