▎反而, fǎn’ér, (Adv), on the contrary

 

Function The adverb 反而 introduces an action or situation that is contrary to the expectations of the speaker. 反而 brings in S2.

1 你說了那麼多次。她不但沒聽懂，反而更糊塗了。

Nǐ shuōle nàme duō cì. Tā búdàn méi tīngdǒng, fǎn’ér gèng hútú le.

Even after you have repeated yourself so many times, she still doesn’t get it. On the contrary, she’s even more confused than before.

2 她本來很好看，化了妝以後反而不好看。

Tā běnlái hěn hǎokàn, huàle zhuāng yǐhòu fǎn’ér bù hǎokàn.

She is naturally pretty, and make-up actually makes her less attractive.

3 看了我寫的文章，老師不但沒罵我，反而說我寫得很好。

Kànle wǒ xiě de wénzhāng, lǎoshī búdàn méi mà wǒ, fǎn’ér shuō wǒ xiě de hěn hǎo.

The teacher didn’t reproach me after reading my paper. On the contrary, she said I did a good job with my writing.

4 我運動以後不但不累，反而更有精神。

Wǒ yùndòng yǐhòu búdàn bú lèi, fǎn’ér gèng yǒu jīngshén.

I don’t feel tired after a work out; on the contrary I have even more energy.

5 現在很多年輕人喜歡穿黑色的，反而是年紀大的人喜歡穿紅色的。

Xiànzài hěn duō niánqīng rén xǐhuān chuān hēisè de, fǎn’ér shì niánjì dà de rén xǐhuān chuān hóngsè de.

Black is in style among young people these days. On the contrary it is the older generation who wears red.

 

Usage The 反而 clause is often preceded by a 不但 clause (S1) in the negative.

1 他常常熬夜念書。成績不但沒進步，反而退步了。

Tā chángcháng áoyè niànshū. Chéngjī búdàn méi jìnbù, fǎn’ér tuìbù le.

He often stays up late studying. Not only have his grades not improved, they have actually gotten worse.

2 他去當兵不但沒變瘦，反而胖了。

Tā qù dāngbīng búdàn méi biàn shòu, fǎn’ér pàng le.

He went to serve in the military. Not only did he not lose weight, he actually gained.

3 我幫她打掃房間。她不但不覺得高興，反而生氣了。

Wǒ bāng tā dǎsǎo fángjiān. Tā búdàn bù juéde gāoxìng, fǎn’ér shēngqì le.

I cleaned her room for her. Not only did it not make her happy, she actually got displeased.