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Expressing "on the contrary" with 反而 ("fan3er2")

反而 fǎnér

Grammar
HSK 4

Structure

⋯⋯ ，Subj. + 反而 + [Unexpected Outcome] ⋯⋯ ，Subj. [不但 / 不仅] + [不 / 没] ⋯⋯，反而 + [Unexpected Outcome]

Definition

反而是一个副词，表示事情的结果与预期的相反，或者出现了相反的情况。通常用于表达一种转折关系，强调后一情况与前文预期不符。

反而 is an adverb meaning 'on the contrary' or 'instead', indicating that the result is opposite to what was expected, or that a contrary situation occurs. It is often used to express a contrastive relationship, emphasizing that the following situation contradicts prior expectations.

Usage

反而通常用于复句中，前面先描述一种预期或常理，后面用反而引出与之相反的结果。它可以放在主语后或句首，常与'不但...反而...'、'非但...反而...'等结构搭配。

反而 is typically used in complex sentences. First, an expectation or common sense is described, and then 反而 introduces a contrasting result. It can be placed after the subject or at the beginning of the sentence, and is often used with structures like '不但...反而...' (not only... but instead...) or '非但...反而...' (far from... but rather...).

Examples

  • 1 我本以为他会生气，反而他笑了。（I thought he would be angry, but he laughed instead.）
  • 2 吃了药之后，病情不但没有好转，反而加重了。（After taking the medicine, instead of getting better, his condition worsened.）
  • 3 她不但没有道歉，反而责怪起我来。（She not only didn't apologize, but instead blamed me.）
  • 4 大家都以为他会失败，结果他反而成功了。（Everyone thought he would fail, but he ended up succeeding instead.）
  • 5 你越催他，他反而越慢。（The more you urge him, the slower he becomes.）

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