Difference between revisions of "Expressing "on the contrary" with "fan'er""
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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. | 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. | ||
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=== Structure === | === 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. | + | 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 word "actually" may be helpful in some translations. |
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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. | 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, | + | Also, when the subject of the first and second clause are the same, it can be omitted in the second clause (after the comma and before 反而). If there ''is'' a subject, however, 反而 definitely needs to come ''after'' it. |
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*他 没有 放弃 ，<em>反而</em> 更 努力 了 ！<span class="pinyin">Tā méiyǒu fàngqì, <em>fǎn'ér</em> gèng nǔlì le!</span><span class="trans">He didn't give up; on the contrary, he worked even harder.</span> | *他 没有 放弃 ，<em>反而</em> 更 努力 了 ！<span class="pinyin">Tā méiyǒu fàngqì, <em>fǎn'ér</em> gèng nǔlì le!</span><span class="trans">He didn't give up; on the contrary, he worked even harder.</span> | ||
| − | *改革 <em>反而</em> 让 老百姓 更 不 满意 了 。<span class="pinyin">Gǎigé <em>fǎn'ér</em> ràng lǎobǎixìng gèng bù mǎnyì le.</span><span class="trans"> | + | *改革 <em>反而</em> 让 老百姓 更 不 满意 了 。<span class="pinyin">Gǎigé <em>fǎn'ér</em> ràng lǎobǎixìng gèng bù mǎnyì le.</span><span class="trans">Reform actually made the people less satisfied.</span> |
| − | *吃 了 这个 药 ，病 <em>反而</em> 更 严重 了。<span class="pinyin">Chī le zhège yào, bìng <em>fǎn'ér</em> gèng yánzhòng le.</span><span class="trans">After taking medicine, the illness | + | *吃 了 这个 药 ，病 <em>反而</em> 更 严重 了。<span class="pinyin">Chī le zhège yào, bìng <em>fǎn'ér</em> gèng yánzhòng le.</span><span class="trans">After taking the medicine, the illness actually got even worse.</span> |
| − | *你 的 参与 <em>反而</em> 给 我们 带来 了 麻烦 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de cānyù <em>fǎn'ér</em> gěi wǒmen dài lái le máfan.</span><span class="trans">Your involvement | + | *你 的 参与 <em>反而</em> 给 我们 带来 了 麻烦 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de cānyù <em>fǎn'ér</em> gěi wǒmen dài lái le máfan.</span><span class="trans">Your involvement is actually giving us trouble.</span> |
| − | *这个 新 系统 <em>反而</em> 降低 了 我们 的 工作 效率 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xīn xìtǒng <em>fǎn'ér</em> jiàngdī le wǒmen de gōngzuò xiàolǜ.</span><span class="trans">This new system | + | *这个 新 系统 <em>反而</em> 降低 了 我们 的 工作 效率 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xīn xìtǒng <em>fǎn'ér</em> jiàngdī le wǒmen de gōngzuò xiàolǜ.</span><span class="trans">This new system actually reduced our work efficiency.</span> |
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⋯⋯ ，Subj. [不但 / 不仅] + [不 / 没] ⋯⋯，反而 + [Unexpected Outcome] | ⋯⋯ ，Subj. [不但 / 不仅] + [不 / 没] ⋯⋯，反而 + [Unexpected Outcome] | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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*他 <strong>不但 不</strong> 帮 我 ，<em>反而</em> 给 我 找 麻烦 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>bùdàn bù</strong> bāng wǒ, <em>fǎn'ér</em> gěi wǒ zhǎo máfan.</span><span class="trans">He not only didn't help me, but rather gave me trouble.</span> | *他 <strong>不但 不</strong> 帮 我 ，<em>反而</em> 给 我 找 麻烦 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>bùdàn bù</strong> bāng wǒ, <em>fǎn'ér</em> gěi wǒ zhǎo máfan.</span><span class="trans">He not only didn't help me, but rather gave me trouble.</span> | ||
*你 妈妈 那么 爱 你 ，你 <strong>不但 不</strong> 感激 ，<em>反而</em> 说 她 不 关心 你 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ māmā nàme ài nǐ, nǐ <strong>bùdàn bù</strong> gǎnjī, <em>fǎn'ér</em> shuō tā bù guānxīn nǐ?</span><span class="trans">Your mother loves you so much, and not only are you not grateful, but you even say she doesn't care about you?</span> | *你 妈妈 那么 爱 你 ，你 <strong>不但 不</strong> 感激 ，<em>反而</em> 说 她 不 关心 你 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ māmā nàme ài nǐ, nǐ <strong>bùdàn bù</strong> gǎnjī, <em>fǎn'ér</em> shuō tā bù guānxīn nǐ?</span><span class="trans">Your mother loves you so much, and not only are you not grateful, but you even say she doesn't care about you?</span> | ||
| − | *我 吃 了 减肥 药 ，<strong>不但 没</strong> 瘦 ，<em>反而</em> 长胖 了 ！<span class="pinyin">Wǒ chī le jiǎnféi yào, <strong>bùdàn méi</strong> shòu, <em>fǎn'ér</em> zhǎng pàng le!</span><span class="trans">I took a weight | + | *我 吃 了 减肥 药 ，<strong>不但 没</strong> 瘦 ，<em>反而</em> 长胖 了 ！<span class="pinyin">Wǒ chī le jiǎnféi yào, <strong>bùdàn méi</strong> shòu, <em>fǎn'ér</em> zhǎng pàng le!</span><span class="trans">I took a weight loss pill. Not only did I not lose weight, but rather I actually gained weight!</span> |
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{{Basic Grammar|反而|B2|⋯⋯，反而 ⋯⋯|他 没有 放弃 ，<em>反而</em> 更加 努力 了 ！|grammar point|ASGX5QTV}} | {{Basic Grammar|反而|B2|⋯⋯，反而 ⋯⋯|他 没有 放弃 ，<em>反而</em> 更加 努力 了 ！|grammar point|ASGX5QTV}} | ||
{{Rel char|不但}} | {{Rel char|不但}} | ||
| + | {{Rel char|不仅}} | ||
{{Similar|The "However" Adverb "que"}} | {{Similar|The "However" Adverb "que"}} | ||
{{Similar|Expressing Contrariness with "dao"}} | {{Similar|Expressing Contrariness with "dao"}} | ||
Revision as of 09:59, 24 November 2020
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
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.
Contents
Simple Pattern
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 word "actually" may be helpful in some translations.
⋯⋯ ，Subj. + 反而 + [Unexpected 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, when the subject of the first and second clause are the same, it can be omitted in the second clause (after the comma and before 反而). If there is a subject, however, 反而 definitely needs to come after it.
- 我 帮 了 她 ， 反而 她 生气 了 。
- 我 帮 了 她 ， 她 反而 生气 了 。
Examples
- 他 没有 放弃 ，反而 更 努力 了 ！He didn't give up; on the contrary, he worked even harder.
- 改革 反而 让 老百姓 更 不 满意 了 。Reform actually made the people less satisfied.
- 吃 了 这个 药 ，病 反而 更 严重 了。After taking the medicine, the illness actually got even worse.
- 你 的 参与 反而 给 我们 带来 了 麻烦 。Your involvement is actually giving us trouble.
- 这个 新 系统 反而 降低 了 我们 的 工作 效率 。This new system actually reduced our work efficiency.
Fuller Pattern
Adding 不但 or 不仅 adds a sense of "not only" before the "to the contrary" part. The word "actually" might help with translations into English.
Structure
⋯⋯ ，Subj. [不但 / 不仅] + [不 / 没] ⋯⋯，反而 + [Unexpected Outcome]
Examples
- 吃 了 药 ，病 不但 没 好，反而 更 严重 了。After taking the medicine, the illness not only didn't get better, but actually got even worse.
- 失败 了 这么 多 次 ，他 不但 没 放弃 ，反而 更 努力 了。Having failed so many times, he not only didn't give up, but rather worked even harder.
- 他 不但 不 帮 我 ，反而 给 我 找 麻烦 。He not only didn't help me, but rather gave me trouble.
- 你 妈妈 那么 爱 你 ，你 不但 不 感激 ，反而 说 她 不 关心 你 ？Your mother loves you so much, and not only are you not grateful, but you even say she doesn't care about you?
- 我 吃 了 减肥 药 ，不但 没 瘦 ，反而 长胖 了 ！I took a weight loss pill. Not only did I not lose weight, but rather I actually gained weight!
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 259) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 84) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 83, 151-2) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
Websites
- 汉语教学: [反而]
