Where does “なのに” come from?
なのに (Japanese) comes from Japanese のに, from Japanese の, from Old Japanese の, from Middle Chinese 能 — talent, ability.
なのに (Japanese): but, in spite of, however, although
Definitions
- but, in spite of, however, although
Ancestry of “なのに”, step by step
なのに traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Japanese のに
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Japanese | のに | even though, although; if only; in order |
| 2 | Japanese | の | genitive case marker; nominative case marker in a... |
| 3 | Old Japanese | の | plain, field |
| 4 | Middle Chinese | 能 | talent, ability |
via Japanese な
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Japanese | な | used to get someone's attention, generally... |
| 2 | Japanese | ね | emphasis and question marker particle; asks for... |