反而
fǎn ér
On the contrary, instead
How to use 反而 (fǎn'ér) and 却 (què) to express contrast
反而 (fǎn'ér): contrary to expectation / 却 (què): however, but
反而 (fǎn ér) vs 却 (què) — contrary to expectation vs but
HSK 6Adverbs
反而 (fǎn'ér): contrary to expectation / 却 (què): however, but
HSK 6Adverbs反而 (fǎn ér) vs 却 (què) — contrary to expectation vs but
Rule structure
反而 (fǎn'ér) emphasizes a result opposite to expectation. 却 (què) is a general contrastive adverb ("however, yet"). 反而 (fǎn'ér) is stronger in unexpectedness.
Rule structure
反而 (fǎn'ér) emphasizes a result opposite to expectation. 却 (què) is a general contrastive adverb ("however, yet"). 反而 (fǎn'ér) is stronger in unexpectedness.
Examples
他努力了，反而失败了。 / 他说帮忙，却没来。
Tā nǔlì le, fǎn'ér shībài le. / Tā shuō bāngmáng, què méi lái.
He tried hard, but contrary to expectations, he failed. / He said he would help, yet he didn’t come.
Examples
他努力了，反而失败了。 / 他说帮忙，却没来。
Tā nǔlì le, fǎn'ér shībài le. / Tā shuō bāngmáng, què méi lái.
He tried hard, but contrary to expectations, he failed. / He said he would help, yet he didn’t come.
Practice
Build the sentence
Drag the characters to put them in the correct order
Characters
Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “contrary to expectation vs but” in Chinese with 反而 vs 却?
Use the structure: 反而 (fǎn'ér): contrary to expectation / 却 (què): however, but. For example: 他努力了，反而失败了。 / 他说帮忙，却没来。 — “He tried hard, but contrary to expectations, he failed. / He said he would help, yet he didn’t come”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
他努力了，反而失败了。 / 他说帮忙，却没来。 — “He tried hard, but contrary to expectations, he failed. / He said he would help, yet he didn’t come”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 6.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 6 grammar rules
无非 — nothing but
无非 (wúfēi) + Noun / Clause (dismissive)
凡是 — all, every
凡是 (fánshì) + Noun Phrase, 都 (dōu) + Verb
恢复 vs 还原 — restore vs return to original
恢复 (huīfù): restore (state, function) / 还原 (huányuán): restore to original state
居然 vs 反而 — unexpected vs on the contrary
居然 (jūrán): unexpectedly (surprise) / 反而 (fǎn'ér): on the contrary
再…也 — no matter how
再 (zài) + Adj., 也 (yě) + Result
何必 — why bother
何必 (hébì) + Verb Phrase (rhetorical, unnecessary)
不断 vs 不停 — continuous vs nonstop
不断 (bùduàn) + Verb (continuous, unceasing) / 不停 (bùtíng) + Verb (incessant, nonstop)
按照 vs 根据 — according to vs based on
按照 (ànzhào) + Rule / Standard (follow) / 根据 (gēnjù) + Basis / Source (based on)