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Comparing 反而 ("fan3er2") and 相反 ("xiang1fan3")

反而 / 相反 fǎnér xiāngfǎn

Grammar
HSK 5

Structure

A，相反，B A，反而 B Situation，相反，The Opposite of the Situation Expectation，反而 + The Opposite of Expectation 相反 + 的 + Noun Subj. + 相反 A 和 / 跟 B ＋ 是 ＋ 相反的

Definition

反而表示转折，强调事情的结果与预期或常理相反；相反表示两个事物互相对立或不同。

反而 indicates a turn of events that is contrary to expectation or common sense; 相反 means opposite or contrary, describing two things that are mutually exclusive or different.

Usage

反而用作副词，连接前后分句，前面常有‘不但不/没有…’等否定结构；相反可用作形容词（如‘相反的方向’）或独立使用（如‘恰恰相反’），也可作连词（如‘相反，…’）。

反而 is an adverb used to connect clauses, often preceded by a negative structure like '不仅不/没有...'; 相反 can be an adjective (e.g., 'opposite direction'), used independently (e.g., 'on the contrary'), or as a conjunction (e.g., '相反，...').

Examples

  • 1 他不但没有道歉，反而责怪别人。 (He not only didn't apologize, but instead blamed others.)
  • 2 大家都以为他会放弃，他却反而更加努力了。 (Everyone thought he would give up, but instead he worked harder.)
  • 3 这两个观点完全相反。 (These two viewpoints are completely opposite.)
  • 4 我以为他会同意，结果恰恰相反，他拒绝了。 (I thought he would agree, but on the contrary, he refused.)
  • 5 不要把事情弄得更糟，相反，我们应该冷静处理。 (Don't make things worse; on the contrary, we should handle it calmly.)
  • 6 他的做法与规定相反。 (His actions are contrary to the regulations.)

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