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I have this sentence in one of my JLPT practise books:

> 電子{でんし}レンジは冷{さ}めた料理{りょうり}を温{あたた}める **のに** 重宝{ちょうほう}だ。

I thought `のに` meant something like "in spite of". So, to me, this sentence
seems to be saying that a microwave oven is convenient (or a "precious
treasure") _in spite_ of the fact that it warms cold food.

... but, isn't that exactly what a microwave oven is supposed to do? Shouldn't
the sentence be something more like:

> 電子{でんし}レンジは冷{さ}めた料理{りょうり}を温{あたた}める **ので** 重宝{ちょうほう}だ。

Is this a typo, or is `のに` used in another way that make sense here?
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2011-11-08T06:52:49.290
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2018-04-09T03:08:54.387
2018-04-09T03:08:54.387
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question
grammar particle-に particle-の particle-で jlpt
This instance of のに is opposite from my expectations
I suspect it's the nominalizer の, making the noun phrase "...温めるの". Then the
'directional/intention' particle に is appended, giving intention towards which
the 電子レンジ can be considered 重宝.

This can be occasionally tricky to sort out from the "in spite of" usage, but
it is an alternate parse to be aware of.
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2011-11-08T07:34:51.937
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2011-11-08T07:34:51.937
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answer
のに can have several meanings, "despite" being the most common one. But it can
also mean "in order to" (~のため）. Here are some examples (taken from
[here](http://www.jgram.org/pages/viewOne.php?tagE=noni-2)):

> パスポートは海外旅行に行くのに必要です。  
>  A passport is necessary to travel abroad.
>
> 電子レンジは冷めた料理を温めるのに重宝だ。  
>  A microwave is handy to heat up cold food.
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2011-11-08T07:36:48.540
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2018-04-09T03:08:34.250
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer