JLPT N3 grammar
〜にしては — Meaning & Examples
For an X (category norm), surprisingly Y. 子供にしてはしっかりしている = mature for a child. Close to わりに, often interchangeable.
〜にしては — For a Category, Surprisingly
〜にしては = "for an X" — compares against the norm expected of a CATEGORY, not a stated fact. Very close in meaning to わりに, but built differently.
Formation: noun / verb (plain form) + にしては
彼は子供にしては、しっかりしている。
= For a kid, he's surprisingly grown-up. (compared to what you'd expect from "a child" as a category)
今日は12月にしては暖かいですね。
= It's warm for December, isn't it. (compared to what December is normally like)
初めて作ったにしては、上手にできましたね。
= For a first attempt, you did that really well.
にしては vs わりに — the subtle difference:
にしては compares against a known category standard (children in general, December in general, a first attempt in general).
わりに compares against an expectation set up by the sentence itself (安いわりに = given that IT is cheap...).
子供にしてはしっかりしている。 ✅ (comparing against "children" as a group)
❓子供のわりにしっかりしている ✅ (also possible — わりに can take a noun+の too, and the two genuinely overlap in many everyday sentences)
In practice, native speakers use them almost interchangeably in casual speech — knowing both is more important than perfectly separating them. The N3 exam usually only needs you to recognise the meaning, not police the boundary. 🎯
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜にしては. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 「彼は子供にしては、しっかりしている」 means?
- For a child, he is surprisingly mature
- He is not mature at all
- All children are mature
- He is an adult
Show answer
Answer: For a child, he is surprisingly mature
〜にしては compares against the norm expected of a category ("children" in general).
2. How does 〜にしては differ from 〜わりに in what it compares against?
- They are unrelated patterns
- わりに is only for people
- にしては is only for weather
- にしては compares against a category norm; わりに compares against an expectation set by the sentence itself
Show answer
Answer: にしては compares against a category norm; わりに compares against an expectation set by the sentence itself
12月にしては暖かい (compared to what December is normally like) vs 安いわりにおいしい (compared to what "cheap" implies).
Practise 〜にしては in the free app
This point is part of the “📐 Tendency and Proportion — がち・気味・わりに・にしては” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: 📐 Tendency and Proportion — がち・気味・わりに・にしては
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜にしては mean?
For an X (category norm), surprisingly Y. 子供にしてはしっかりしている = mature for a child. Close to わりに, often interchangeable.
Is 〜にしては on the JLPT N3 test?
〜にしては is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “📐 Tendency and Proportion — がち・気味・わりに・にしては”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜にしては?
Open the “📐 Tendency and Proportion — がち・気味・わりに・にしては” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.