JLPT N3 grammar
せっかく — Meaning & Examples
"Going to all the trouble of..." Pairs naturally with のに. せっかく作ったのに = I went to all the effort of making it, and yet... One of the most expressive Japanese adverbs.
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on せっかく. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. Which carries a feeling of DISAPPOINTMENT?
- くせに (kuse ni)
- ものの (mono no)
- のに (noni)
- なのに違う (na noni chigau)
Show answer
Answer: のに (noni)
のに = disappointed "even though". The result was unexpected and the speaker is let down. せっかくのに！= After all that trouble!
2. せっかく pairs naturally with?
- くせに (kuse ni)
- ものの (mono no)
- のに (noni)
- から (kara)
Show answer
Answer: のに (noni)
せっかくのに = I went to all that trouble and yet... The combination is extremely common and expressive.
Practise せっかく in the free app
This point is part of the “Nuance Connectors — のに・くせに・ものの” 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: Nuance Connectors — のに・くせに・ものの
Frequently asked questions
What does せっかく mean?
"Going to all the trouble of..." Pairs naturally with のに. せっかく作ったのに = I went to all the effort of making it, and yet... One of the most expressive Japanese adverbs.
Is せっかく on the JLPT N3 test?
せっかく is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Nuance Connectors — のに・くせに・ものの”), 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 せっかく?
Open the “Nuance Connectors — のに・くせに・ものの” 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.