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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
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反而 (fǎn'ér) is used to express "on the contrary" or "in contrast," with 反而 appearing as part of 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.
 
  
 
== Simple Pattern ==
 
== Simple Pattern ==
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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.
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Normally the first clause 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.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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</div>
 
</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.
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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'' (if there is one) and ''before the verb''.  (This is different from a conjunction like 但是 which comes ''before'' the subject!) Also 反而 can appear in one sentence with 但是. Rather than ''replacing'' it, 反而 can work ''with'' 但是 to add even more contrarian emphasis.
  
Also, sometimes the subject of the second clause can be omitted. If there is a subject, however, 反而 definitely need to come ''after'' it.
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
*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>
 +
*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>
 +
*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">Reform actually made the people less satisfied.</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 is actually giving us trouble.</span>
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</div>
  
<ul>
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== Common Mistake: Putting 反而 Before the Subject ==
<li class="x">我 帮 了 她 , <strong>反而</strong> 她 生气 了 。</li>
 
<li class="o">我 帮 了 她 , 她 <strong>反而</strong> 生气 了 。</li>
 
</ul>
 
  
</div>
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Take note: when the subject of the first and second clause are the same, the subject 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. See the simple examples below and then check the longer sentences above, confirming this rule.
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*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>
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<ul>
*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">The reform didn't work very well; on the contrary, people are getting more unsatisfied.</span>
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<li class="x">我 帮 了 她 , <em>反而</em> <strong></strong> 生气 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bāng le tā, <em>fǎnér</em> <strong></strong> shēngqì le.</span></li>
*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 didn't get better. On the contrary, it got even worse.</span>
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<li class="o">我 帮 了 她 , <strong></strong> <em>反而</em> 生气 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bāng le , <strong></strong> <em>fǎnér</em> shēngqì le.</span></li>
*你 的 参与 <em>反而</em> 给 我们 带来 麻烦 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de cānyù <em>fǎn'ér</em> gěi wǒmen dài lái le máfan.</span><span class="trans">Your involvement wasn't really helpful; on the contrary, it gave us trouble.</span>
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</ul>
*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 didn't improve our working efficiency. On the contrary, it reduced it.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== Fuller Pattern ==
 
== Fuller Pattern ==
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 +
Adding [[不但]] or [[不仅]] adds a sense of "not only" before the "to the contrary" part. The word "actually" can be useful here for translations into English.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
⋯⋯ ,Subj. 不但 + 不 / 没 ⋯⋯,反而 + [Unexpected Outcome]
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⋯⋯ ,Subj. [不但 / 不仅] + [不 / 没] ⋯⋯,反而 + [Unexpected Outcome]
 
</div>
 
</div>
不仅 can also be used instead of 不但。
 
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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*失败 了 这么 多 次 ,他 <strong>不但 没</strong> 放弃 ,<em>反而</em> 更 努力 了。<span class="pinyin">Shībài le zhème duō cì, tā <strong>bùdàn méi</strong> fàngqì, <em>fǎn'ér</em> gèng nǔlì le.</span><span class="trans">Having failed so many times, he not only didn't give up, but rather worked even harder.</span>
 
*失败 了 这么 多 次 ,他 <strong>不但 没</strong> 放弃 ,<em>反而</em> 更 努力 了。<span class="pinyin">Shībài le zhème duō cì, tā <strong>bùdàn méi</strong> fàngqì, <em>fǎn'ér</em> gèng nǔlì le.</span><span class="trans">Having failed so many times, he not only didn't give up, but rather worked even harder.</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>
 
*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>
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*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 māma 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-loss pill. Not only did I not lose weight, but rather I actually gained weight!</span>
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*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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== See also ==
 
== See also ==
  
*[[The "However" Adverb "que"]]
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*[[The "however" adverb "que"]]
 
*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]
 
*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]
  
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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}}
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{{Rel char|不仅}}
 
{{Similar|The "However" Adverb "que"}}
 
{{Similar|The "However" Adverb "que"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing Contrariness with "dao"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing Contrariness with "dao"}}

Latest revision as of 06:46, 11 December 2020

反而 (fǎn'ér) is used to express "on the contrary" or "in contrast," with 反而 appearing as part of 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.

Simple Pattern

Structure

Normally the first clause 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 (if there is one) and before the verb. (This is different from a conjunction like 但是 which comes before the subject!) Also 反而 can appear in one sentence with 但是. Rather than replacing it, 反而 can work with 但是 to add even more contrarian emphasis.

Examples

  • 吃 了 这个 药 ,病 反而 更 严重 了。Chī le zhège yào, bìng fǎn'ér gèng yánzhòng le.After taking the medicine, the illness actually got even worse.
  • 这个 新 系统 反而 降低 了 我们 的 工作 效率 。Zhège xīn xìtǒng fǎn'ér jiàngdī le wǒmen de gōngzuò xiàolǜ.This new system actually reduced our work efficiency.
  • 他 没有 放弃 ,反而 更 努力 了 !Tā méiyǒu fàngqì, fǎn'ér gèng nǔlì le!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 。Gǎigé fǎn'ér ràng lǎobǎixìng gèng bù mǎnyì le.Reform actually made the people less satisfied.
  • 你 的 参与 反而 给 我们 带来 了 麻烦 。Nǐ de cānyù fǎn'ér gěi wǒmen dài lái le máfan.Your involvement is actually giving us trouble.

Common Mistake: Putting 反而 Before the Subject

Take note: when the subject of the first and second clause are the same, the subject 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. See the simple examples below and then check the longer sentences above, confirming this rule.

  • 我 帮 了 她 , 反而 生气 了 。Wǒ bāng le tā, fǎnér shēngqì le.
  • 我 帮 了 她 , 反而 生气 了 。Wǒ bāng le tā, fǎnér shēngqì le.

Fuller Pattern

Adding 不但 or 不仅 adds a sense of "not only" before the "to the contrary" part. The word "actually" can be useful here for 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。Chī le yào, bìng bùdàn méi hǎo, fǎn'ér gèng yánzhòng le.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。Shībài le zhème duō cì, tā bùdàn méi fàngqì, fǎn'ér gèng nǔlì le.Having failed so many times, he not only didn't give up, but rather worked even harder.
  • 不但 不 帮 我 ,反而 给 我 找 麻烦 。bùdàn bù bāng wǒ, fǎn'ér gěi wǒ zhǎo máfan.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 ?Nǐ māma nàme ài nǐ, nǐ bùdàn bù gǎnjī, fǎn'ér shuō tā bù guānxīn nǐ?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 !Wǒ chī le jiǎnféi yào, bùdàn méi shòu, fǎn'ér zhǎng pàng le!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

Websites

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