Difference between revisions of "Expressing "on the contrary" with "fan'er""

Revision as of 08:58, 26 November 2013

Level

B2 / HSK5
Level

B2
Level

HSK5
Similar to
- Expressing contrariness with "dao" (B2)
- The "however" adverb "que" (B2)
Similar to
- Expressing contrariness with "dao" (HSK4)
- The "however" adverb "que" (HSK4)
Used for

Denying and refusing, Contrasting
Keywords

不但, 不仅, 反而

反而 (fǎn'ér) is used to express "on the contrary" or "in contrast," with 反而 going in the second part of the sentence. Note that the meaning of 反而 goes beyond just "but" and is usually used to explain that something is totally the opposite of what one was expecting.

Structure

Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces the part that is totally opposite of one's expectations.

The overall structure of sentences that use 反而 is something like this:

clause 1, Subject + 反而 + unexpected opposite outcome

It's also important to point out that 反而 is not a conjunction; it's an adverb. Practically speaking, this means that rather than joining two statements, it goes inside a statement (within the second clause). Specifically, it needs to come after the subject and before the verb. (Note that when you use a conjunction like 但是 it comes before the subject! 反而 is different in this respect. Also, rather than replacing 但是, it can work with it to add emphasis.

Also, sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted. If there is a subject, however, 反而 definitely need to come after it.

我本来想帮她，反而她生气了。
我本来想帮她，她反而生气了。

Examples

吃了药，病不但没好，反而加重了。After taking medicine, the illness didn't get better. On the contrary, it got even worse.
天气预报说今天是大晴天，结果反而下了一整天的雨。The weather forecast said today was supposed to be sunny, but it turned out that it rained all day.
他觉得所谓的发展不是进步，反而是退化。He thinks that this so-called development isn't progress, but actually decline.
商家简化说明书是为了方便消费者，结果反而更麻烦了。This business simplifies its manuals to make it convenient for consumers, but it actually makes things even more bothersome.

Sources and further reading

Books

Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 259) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (p. 84) →buy
卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 83, 151-2) →buy

Websites

汉语教学: [反而]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Grammar Box}} \r\n反而 (fǎn'ér) is used to express "on the contrary" or "in contrast," with 反而 going in the second part of the sentence.  Note that the meaning of 反而 goes beyond just "but" and is usually used to explain that something is totally the opposite of what one was expecting.\r\n== Structure ==\r\nNormally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces the part that is totally opposite of one's expectations.\r\nThe overall structure of sentences that use 反而 is something like this:\r\n<div class="jiegou">
+{{Grammar Box}}
+反而 (fǎn'ér) is used to express "on the contrary" or "in contrast," with 反而 going in the second part of the sentence.  Note that the meaning of 反而 goes beyond just "but" and is usually used to explain that something is totally the opposite of what one was expecting.
+== Structure ==
+Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces the part that is totally opposite of one's expectations.
+The overall structure of sentences that use 反而 is something like this:
+<div class="jiegou">
 clause 1, Subject + 反而 + unexpected opposite outcome
-</div>\r\nIt's also important to point out that 反而 is not a [[conjunctions|conjunction]]; it's an [[adverbs|adverb]].  Practically speaking, this means that rather than joining two statements, it goes ''inside'' a statement (within the second clause).  Specifically, it needs to come ''after the subject'' and ''before the verb''.  (Note that when you use a conjunction like 但是 it comes ''before'' the subject!  反而 is different in this respect.  Also, rather than ''replacing'' 但是, it can work with it to add emphasis.\r\nAlso, sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted.  If there is a subject, however, 反而 definitely need to come ''after'' it.\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n<ul>
+</div>
+It's also important to point out that 反而 is not a [[conjunctions|conjunction]]; it's an [[adverbs|adverb]].  Practically speaking, this means that rather than joining two statements, it goes ''inside'' a statement (within the second clause).  Specifically, it needs to come ''after the subject'' and ''before the verb''.  (Note that when you use a conjunction like 但是 it comes ''before'' the subject!  反而 is different in this respect.  Also, rather than ''replacing'' 但是, it can work with it to add emphasis.
+Also, sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted.  If there is a subject, however, 反而 definitely need to come ''after'' it.
+<div class="liju">
+<ul>
 <li class="x">我 本来 想 帮 她 ， <strong>反而</strong> 她 生气 了 。</li>
 <li class="o">我 本来 想 帮 她 ， 她 <strong>反而</strong> 生气 了 。</li>
-</ul>\r\n</div>\r\n== Examples ==\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 吃 了 药 ，病 不但 没 好 ，<em>反而</em> 加重了。<span class="trans">After taking medicine, the illness didn't get better. On the contrary, it got even worse.</span>
+</ul>
+</div>
+== Examples ==
+<div class="liju">
+* 吃 了 药 ，病 不但 没 好 ，<em>反而</em> 加重了。<span class="trans">After taking medicine, the illness didn't get better. On the contrary, it got even worse.</span>
 * 天气 预报 说 今天 是 大晴天，结果<em>反而</em>下 了 一整天 的 雨 。<span class="trans">The weather forecast said today was supposed to be sunny, but it turned out that it rained all day.</span>
 * 他 觉得 所谓 的 发展 不 是 进步，<em>反而</em>  是 退化。<span class="trans">He thinks that this so-called development isn't progress, but actually decline.</span>
-* 商家 简化 说明书 是 为了 方便 消费者，结果 <em>反而</em> 更 麻烦 了。<span class="trans">This business simplifies its manuals to make it convenient for consumers, but it actually makes things even more bothersome.</span>\r\n</div>\r\n==See also==\r\n*[[The "However" Adverb "que"]]
+* 商家 简化 说明书 是 为了 方便 消费者，结果 <em>反而</em> 更 麻烦 了。<span class="trans">This business simplifies its manuals to make it convenient for consumers, but it actually makes things even more bothersome.</span>
-*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 259) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
+</div>
+==See also==
+*[[The "However" Adverb "que"]]
+*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]
+== Sources and further reading ==
+=== Books ===
+* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 259) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
 * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (p. 84) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
-*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (pp. 83, 151-2) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]\r\n=== Websites ===\r\n* 汉语教学: [[http://www.pep.com.cn/xgjy/hyjx/hyxxzy/hyxx/cyxx/201009/t20100901_855691.htm 反而]]\r\n[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
+*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (pp. 83, 151-2) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]
+=== Websites ===
+* 汉语教学: [[http://www.pep.com.cn/xgjy/hyjx/hyxxzy/hyxx/cyxx/201009/t20100901_855691.htm 反而]]
+[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
 {{Basic Grammar|反而|B2|……，反而……|他 没有 放弃 ， <em>反而</em> 更加 努力 了 ！|grammar point|ASGX5QTV}}
 {{Similar|The "However" Adverb "que"}}