に反して|にはんして
- 1Contrary to what was expected, predicted or hoped for.Ex. 1
- 2Against someone's wishes or will, or in violation of a rule or law.Ex. 2
Verb (plain form)The plain (non-ます) forms of a verb: affirmative or negative, non-past or past.
行く・行かない・行った・行かなかった
The dictionary form is only one of these: 行く.
i-adj. (plain form)The plain (non-です) forms of an i-adjective: affirmative or negative, non-past or past.
高い・高くない・高かった・高くなかった
The dictionary form is only one of these: 高い. The polite version adds です to the plain form.
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Somewhat formal and common in writing, news reports and explanations. It typically follows nouns for expectations (予想, 期待, 予測) or norms (規則, 法律), and the main clause states the actual result that contradicts them. Unlike にもかかわらず, which follows a factual circumstance, に反して is used with standards, predictions or wishes.
Learners sometimes attach it to ordinary facts such as 雨; use にもかかわらず for 'despite a fact', and に反して for expectations or norms.
Do not confuse it with に沿って, which means the opposite: in line with expectations, plans or policies.
- 1.にひきかえN1「にひきかえ」sets two people, things, or before-and-after situations side by side to stress a stark reversal, often with a praising or critical tone; 「に反して」says a result turned out opposite to what was expected or broke a rule, and usually follows nouns like 「予想」「規則」. They are generally not interchangeable.
- 2.に沿ってN2「に沿って」means staying on course with a plan, expectations, and so on — the exact opposite of 「に反して」's go-against sense, so the two cannot be swapped. It also means physically along something like a river or road, a neutral usage that is common in speech.
- 3.をよそにN1「をよそに」focuses on disregarding the worries, objections, or outside circumstances around you and doing as you please; 「に反して」focuses on a result contrary to expectations or a violation of rules or wishes. Both can attach to words like 「期待」, but the nuance differs, so they are generally not interchangeable.
- 4.わりにN3「わりに」takes a fact such as price or age as its standard and says the result is out of proportion to it, attaching directly to verbs and adjectives with a neutral tone; 「に反して」attaches to nouns like 「予想」「規則」 to mean contrary to expectations or in violation of norms, and leans toward written style. The two are generally not interchangeable.
- 5.にもかかわらずN2「にもかかわらず」is concessive — 'even though..., still...' — attaching to established facts like 「大雨」 and directly to verbs and adjectives; 「に反して」attaches to expectations, rules, and the like to show a contrary result or violation, and when it follows a verb or adjective you must add 「の」 first.
に反して means an outcome goes against an expectation or norm, while に沿って means acting in line with one, and にひきかえ contrasts two different people or things. をよそに means ignoring others' concern or objections, わりに notes a mismatch relative to a standard ("considering"), and にもかかわらず means "despite" a factual circumstance.
