～のに（使う／必要だ）
for the purpose of
In this pattern, の turns a verb into a noun (“the act of reading”) and に marks it as a purpose. The result, verb + のに, means “for ...ing” or “in order to ...”, and it is followed by verbs like 使う (use), 必要だ (be necessary), and かかる (take time or money).
Do not confuse it with the concessive のに meaning “even though”: purpose のに is always completed by a word about using, needing, or costing, while concessive のに joins two contrasting clauses.
1. What something is used for
With 使う or 便利だ, the のに clause states the job a tool or resource is good for.
この本を読むのに辞書を使う。
“I use a dictionary to read this book.”
- この = this
- 本（ほん）= book
- を = object marker
- 読む（よむ）= to read
- のに = for (the purpose of)
- 辞書（じしょ）= dictionary
- 使う（つかう）= use
2. What something needs or costs
With かかる or 必要だ, the のに clause states the goal, and the main clause says how much time, money, or effort it requires.
駅まで行くのに三十分かかります。
“It takes thirty minutes to get to the station.”
- 駅（えき）= station
- まで = “as far as” marker
- 行く（いく）= to go
- のに = for / in order to
- 三十分（さんじゅっぷん）= thirty minutes
- かかります = it takes
How to form it
Verb (dictionary form) + のに + 使う／必要だ／かかる など
- 読む（よむ）= to read → 読むのに（よむのに）= for reading
- 作る（つくる）= to make → 作るのに（つくるのに）= for making
- 行く（いく）= to go → 行くのに（いくのに）= to get there
Key idea
～のに packages an action as a goal and asks: what do you use, need, or spend for it? If the sentence ends in 使う, 必要だ, or かかる, you are looking at purpose のに, not “even though”.
Built on the same stem
Updated .