にも関わらず

In terms of meaning, にも関かかわらず can be thought of as a stronger, more formal and literary version of くせに. A suitable English translation would be “despite the fact that…” or “in spite of…”

The verb 関かかわる means “to be involved with” or “to be related to,” and the ず at the end is a classical literary form of the negative (ない). Therefore, the phrase is essentially saying “unrelated to fact A, B occurred.”

Connection Rules (JLPT Warning)

Be very careful when connecting this grammar point. While it attaches directly to verbs and I-adjectives, it behaves differently with Nouns and Na-adjectives.

• Verbs / I-Adjectives: Plain Form + にも関かかわらず
• Nouns / Na-Adjectives: Attach directly or add である + にも関かかわらず (Never use だ)

彼女かのじょは毎日まいにち会社かいしゃに遅刻ちこくするにも関かかわらず、上司じょうしに怒おこられない。

Despite the fact that she comes to work late every day, her boss never tells her off.

反対者はんたいしゃが多おおくいるにも関かかわらず、政府せいふは改革かいかくを進すすめることにした。

Despite there being many opponents, the government decided to press ahead with the reforms.

意見いけんに相違そういがあるにも関かかわらず、その二人ふたりは一緒いっしょに上手うまく働はたらける。

Despite differences of opinion, those two can work well together.

約束やくそくしたにも関かかわらず、当日とうじつは時間じかん通どおりに現あらわれなかった。

Despite making a promise, when the day came they did not show up on time.

雨あめ（である）にも関かかわらず、サッカーの試合しあいは行おこなわれた。

Despite the rain, the soccer match was held.

Crucial Restriction: No Volition or Requests

Because にも関かかわらず is used to express objective facts that evoke surprise or criticism, the second half of the sentence cannot contain the speaker’s intention, volition (let’s do…), requests (please do…), or commands. If you want to use volition, you must use a simpler grammar point like なのに or だけど.

雨あめにも関かかわらず、出でかけよう。(✘)

[Despite the rain, let’s go out.]

雨あめなのに、出でかけよう。(〇)

Despite the rain, let’s go out.

Using as a Conjunction

You will frequently see this grammar point placed at the very beginning of a sentence as それにも関かかわらず (Despite that / Nevertheless) to connect two separate thoughts.

彼かれは熱ねつがありました。それにも関かかわらず、仕事しごとへ行いきました。

He had a fever. Despite that, he went to work.

Note: In both daily life and on exams, this grammar point is often written entirely in hiragana (にもかかわらず) to make the sentence easier to read.