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Languages Study | Languages of the East | Japanese III
Grammar II - 22.04  

～のに - ~noni (~no ni)

  
   
 

のに - no ni connects two facts, A and B, which hold in spite of the expectation that if A is the case, B is not the case.

   "AのにB," therefore means "A, but contrary to expectations B, too" or "B, despite the fact A." 
   
この会社はお金があるのに、
給料は低いです。		 This company is rich, but it's workers' salaries are low.

kono kaisha-wa okane-ga aru no-ni,
kyuuryoo-wa hikui desu.

  
家にいるのに、電話に出ない。 She's home but does not answer the phone.
ie-ni iru no ni, denwa-ni denai.  
  The predicate in the part A is in the short form.
When A ends with a な-adjective or with a noun+です, it appears as な, just like in the explanatory んです construction.
   
田中さんは親切なのに、
山田さんは田中さんがきらいです。		 Ms. Tanaka is nice,
but Ms. Yamada does not like her.
tanaka-san-wa shinsetsu-na no ni,
yamada-san-wa, tanaka-san-ga kirai desu.		  
大きな問題なのに、
あの人は誰にも相談しません。

It is a big issue, but he does not consult with anybody.
ookina mondai-na no ni,
ano hito-wa dare-ni-mo soodan shimasen.		  
  Because noni connects two facts, you cannot have non-factual sentences like requests, and suggestions in the B clause:
   Compare: 
日本語が少し難しいのに、
これを読んでください。		 This Japanese is a little difficult, but please read it. 
("in spite of it's difficult")

nihongo-ga sukoshi mizukashii no ni,
kore-o yonde kudasai.

  
日本語が少し難しいけど、
これを読んでください。		 ("it's difficult, however...")
nihongo-ga sukoshi mizukashii kedo,
kore-o yonde kudasai.		  
   
あまりおいしそうじゃないのに、
ここで食べましょう。		 The food does not look very promising, but let's eat here. 
("in spite of ...")
amari oishi soo ja nai no ni,
koko-de tabemashoo.		  
あまりおいしそうじゃないけど、
ここで食べましょう。		 ("however...")
amari oishi soo ja nai kedo,
koko-de tabemashoo.