Comparing "juran" and "fan'er"

On the surface, both 居然(jūrán) and 反而(fǎn‘ér) seem to express similar concepts. They both indicate that something is unexpected,or beyond common expectations.In this article, we will look at their similarities and differences

Both 居然 and 反而 are used in similar structures

The main similarity is that both these words have similar grammar structures. The following two grammar structures show us that 反而 and 居然 can interchanged.

[clause 1], [clause 2 using 反而 /居然]

[clause 1], [Subject + 反而/居然 + unexpected opposite outcome]

反而 can be used in some special grammar patterns

However, 反而 is often used with 不仅没有（不但没有） or 不仅不(不但不). You cannot use 居然 here. This pattern basically means "but not only...on the contrary..."

[clause 1], 不仅没有（不但没有）/不仅不(不但不)......反而......

Examples

• 经过 治疗，他 的 病情 不仅 没有 好转，反而 恶化 了。
• 吃了 这些 减肥药，不但 没有 瘦，反而 更 胖 了。
• 雨 不仅 没 停，反而 越 下 越 大 了。

The differences between 居然 and 反而

反而 is used to express "on the contrary" or "in contrast," and it is usually placed in the second part of the sentence. Note that the meaning of 反而 goes beyond just "but." It is used to explain that something is totally the opposite of what one was expecting.

居然 is not as intense as 反而. What's more, 居然 not only brings up an unexpected thing, it also allows the speaker to give a comment on that unexpected thing.

Examples

• 作为学生，就应该好好学习，他 居然 学 社会 上 的 小混混 干 坏事，太 不 像话 了。
• 他 居然 这么 小 的 年纪 就 能 背 唐诗 三 千 首，真是 了不起。
• 他 居然 在 奥运会 上 得了 金牌，真是 太 不可思议 了。
• 他 居然 就 住在 我们家 隔壁，真是 缘分 呐！

太不像话了, 真是了不起, 真是太不可思议了, 真是缘分呐 are the comment portions.

See also

• "On the Contrary" with "fan'er"
• The "However" Adverb "que"
• Expressing Contrariness with "dao"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) →buy

HSK6