What does the なのに mean in this sentence from Makino and Tsutsui's A Dictionary
of Advanced Japanese Grammar:

> アパートの家賃を払うのが精一杯 **なのに** 、まして（や）家を買うなんて夢物語だ

Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar translation:

"I am just managing to pay the rent for my apartment; how much more of a dream
it is to imagine buying my own house!"

This entry is teaching まして which I understand, I fathom that the なの is simply
used for emphasis, and the に in its use as a sentence final to indicate
sympathy or regret (Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar p. 234). Am I
right in thinking this or is it something else?

Many thanks in advance :)
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2016-04-04T19:47:53.767
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2016-04-05T04:18:37.320
2016-04-04T20:00:04.377
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question
grammar conjunctions
Question regarding the use of なのに
Maybe you're thinking too much. のに is [a
particle](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/172162/meaning/m0u/%E3%81%AE%E3%81%AB/)
that is often translated into "while, with [ _some contrary condition_ ]".
Since it derives from nominalizer の, nouns and na-adjectives that come before
it should put な (< copula だ) at the end.

An interesting fact about ましてや is that, the antecedent can be stated with both
から and のに.

> アパートの家賃を払うのが精一杯なのに、まして家を買うなんて夢物語だ
>
> アパートの家賃を払うのが精一杯なのだから、まして家を買うなんて夢物語だ
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2016-04-05T04:18:37.320
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answer