Comparing "fan'er" and “que"

Learning how to properly use 反而 (fǎn'ér) and 却 (què) may seem like a head ache, but it isn't! This article will help you out!

They are placed in different parts of the sentence

反而 can be placed before or after the subject. 却 can only be placed after the subject.

Structure for 反而

Subj. + 反而

反而 + Subj.

Examples

• 你 这么 做，效果 反而 不 好。However you did it, the quality was no good.
• 你 这么 做，反而效果 不 好。However you did it, the quality was no good.

Structure for 却

Subj. + 却

Examples

• 外面 下雨，我 却 没 带 伞。It's raining outside, and I didn't bring an umbrella.
• 外面 下雨，却 我 没 带 伞。

Both have different coverage

反而 can point to any part of the sentence to make a turning point, and it often emphasizes the structure around 是. On the other hand, 却 can only make a turning point for the the whole sentence, in other words, it can only make a turning point for the predicate part of the sentence.

反而 can change any part of the sentence

反而 + Sentence

Examples

• Chicago Bulls 没 赢 最后 一 场 比赛，反而 是 Knicks。The Chicago Bulls didn't win their last game, but the Knicks did.
• 他们 都 觉得 Knicks 会 输 掉 最后 一 场 比赛，结果 他们 反而 赢 了。They all thought the Knicks were going to lose the last game, but they won.
• 我 以为 Knicks 会 赢 第 一 场 比赛，结果 反而 是 最后 一 场。I thought the Knicks would win the first game, but they won the last one.

却 only changes the whole sentence

却 + Verb

Examples

• Chicago Bulls 没 赢 最后 一 场 比赛，Knicks 却 赢 了。The Chicago Bulls didn't win their last game, but the Knicks did.
• 他们 都 觉得 Knicks 会 输 掉 最后 一 场 比赛，他们 却 赢 了。They all thought the Knicks would lose the last game, but they won.
• 我 以为 Knicks 会 赢 第 一 场 比赛，他们 却 输 了。I though the Knicks would win the first game, but they lost.

反而 and 却 express different degrees

Sentences with 反而 express a strong and sudden turn, possibly exceeding expectations. Sentences with 却 are just common turning points. 反而 could be a 180°degree turn, while 却 could be just a 90°.

Examples

• 我 帮 了 他，他 却 不 高兴 了。This is a normal turn of events.I helped him, but he wasn't happy.
• 我 帮 了 他，他 反而 不 高兴 了。The speaker thought the other person would be happy.I helped him, but he wasn't happy.

Special structures

Both of these often appear in set structures, as seen below:

不但没⋯⋯，反而

不但没⋯⋯，反而⋯⋯

• 我 帮 了 他 那么 多，他 不但 没 谢谢 我，反而 有 点 不 高兴。

不但不⋯⋯，反而

不但不⋯⋯，反而⋯⋯

• 他 借 钱 不但 不 还，反而 还 不 承认。

反而却/却反而

⋯⋯，反而却/却反而⋯⋯

• 他 离 这里 最 远，反而 却 第 一 个 到。
• 他 离 这里 最 远，却 反而 第 一 个 到。

却偏（偏）

⋯⋯， 却偏（偏）⋯⋯

• 我 告诉 他 要 下雨，他 却 偏 不 带 伞。
• 我 告诉 他 要 下雨，他 却 偏 偏 不 带 伞。

虽然⋯⋯却

虽然⋯⋯却⋯⋯

• 虽然 我们 不 是 朋友，我 却 不 能 不 告诉 你。

但（是）却

⋯⋯， 但（是）却⋯⋯

• 她 喜欢 吃 甜食，但是 却 从 不 吃 巧克力。She likes to eat sweet things, but she doesn't eat chocolate.
• 她 喜欢 吃 甜食，但 却 从 不 吃 巧克力。She likes to eat sweet things, but she doesn't eat chocolate.

Example dialog

• A: 他们都在提自己的建议，你却坐在那里不说话？They are all trying to assert their opinions, but you're there not talking. Why?
• B: 我以前经常提建议，你没表扬我，反而说我话多。我只好不说了。I used to bring them up a lot, but you didn't commend me for it. Instead you said I spoke too much, so now I don't speak.

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 199, 459) [ →buy]

• 现代汉语虚词例释 (pp. 172, 403) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

• HSK Standard Course 5上 (pp. 30) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 377) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

HSK6