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HSK 5Adverbs

反而(fǎnér)

On the Contrary / Instead

Structure Pattern

Expected Outcome+反而+Opposite Result

Explanation

反而 (fǎnér) means "on the contrary" or "instead" — it introduces a result that is the OPPOSITE of what was expected. The context must set up an expectation that is then contradicted.

Example Sentences

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1
吃了药，病反而更重了。

Chī le yào, bìng fǎnér gèng zhòng le.

After taking medicine, the illness got worse instead.

2
他越忙反而越开心。

Tā yuè máng fǎnér yuè kāixīn.

The busier he is, the happier he is (contrary to expectation).

3
帮了他的忙，他反而生气了。

Bāng le tā de máng, tā fǎnér shēngqì le.

I helped him, but he got angry instead.

Common Mistakes

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Common Mistake

我今天没去上班，反而去逛街了。

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Correct Usage

我今天没去上班，而是去逛街了。

info

“反而”强调结果与预期相反，而此句中“去逛街”并非“没去上班”的相反结果，只是一个替代行为。应使用“而是”来表示“不是A，而是B”的替代关系，即“不是A，而是B”的替代关系。

adverbcontrastunexpected

Related Grammar Points

虽然...但是HSK 2

Although...But

suīrán...dànshì

Unlike English where you use either "although" OR "but," Chinese uses BOTH together: 虽然...但是. You can replace 但是 with 可是 (kěshì) for a softer tone. The 虽然 half is sometimes dropped in casual speech.

Conjunctions3 examples

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