JLPT N2
せっかく
With great effort; after all the trouble
Structure
せっかく + noun/verb (plain form) + のに/から/…
How it works
せっかく emphasizes that something is done with special effort, or that an opportunity is unique. It often implies that something might be wasted or should be made the most of.
Examples
せっかくの日曜日なのに、雨が降って残念だ。
It's such a rare Sunday, but it's raining, which is a shame.
Common mistakes
Using it without a following phrase like のに or から to explain the outcome or reason.
Tip
Think of it as 'since I went to all the trouble...', 'since it's a special opportunity...'.
More JLPT N2 grammar
See せっかく in real Japanese
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