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
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.
Build the sentence
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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.
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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)