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Formation: N + にしては; V plain form (often た-form) + にしては
〜にしては means that, given the specific fact or standard X, the actual result is different from what you would expect, either better or worse. The speaker expresses surprise or an evaluation (十一月にしては暖かい, 初めてにしては上手). X is a concrete fact, and the main clause is an evaluation or observation, not a request or the speaker's intention. It is mostly used about other people or things and is common in both speech and writing. 〜わりに（は） is similar but broader: it attaches freely to adjectives and degree words (値段が高いわりに) and judges against a general degree, while にしては takes a specific standard, usually a noun or a verb clause. 〜だけあって is the opposite: the result matches what X would lead you to expect.
Variants: にしては〜すぎる
Examples
- 初めて作ったにしては、よくできている。
For a first attempt, it's very well made. - 十一月にしては暖かい日が続いている。
We've been having a run of warm days for November. - 冗談にしては、彼の顔は真剣すぎた。
For a joke, the look on his face was far too serious.
In real texts 1 occurrence(s)
あまい、からい、すい 柴崎友香 · 2026年11月4日
「甘口にしてはけっこうからいやん」と思ったあとで、「甘塩って意味なのはわかってるけど、甘くないのになんで甘口なんやろ」と気になって、辞書を引いてみた。
First I thought, "For something called 甘口, this is pretty salty, isn't it?" Then I started wondering, "I know it means lightly salted, but why is it called 甘口 when it isn't sweet?", so I looked it up in the dictionary.
にしては follows the noun 甘口 (the label on the package). The label sets up an expectation of mildness, and the taste breaks it: "for something called mild, it's pretty salty". This mismatch is what sends her to the dictionary, so the pattern drives the whole essay. Don't confuse it with にしても ("even if/even granting"). にしては always signals that the reality is surprising given X.