Learning how to properly use 反而 (fǎn'ér) and 却 (què) may seem like a head ache, but it isn't! This article will help you out!
They are placed in different parts of the sentence
反而 can be placed before or after the subject. 却 can only be placed after the subject.
Structure for 反而
Examples
- 你 这么 做，效果 反而 不 好。 However you did it, the quality was no good.
- 你 这么 做，反而效果 不 好。 However you did it, the quality was no good.
Structure for 却
Examples
- 外面 下雨，他 却 没 带 伞。 It's raining outside, and I didn't bring an umbrella.
- 外面 下雨，却 他 没 带 伞。
Both have different coverage
反而 can point to any part of the sentence to make a turning point, and it often emphasizes the structure around 是. On the other hand, 却 can only make a turning point for the the whole sentence, in other words, it can only make a turning point for the predicate part of the sentence.
反而 can change any part of the sentence
Examples
- Chicago Bulls 没 赢 最后 一 场 比赛，反而 是 Knicks。 The Chicago Bulls didn't win their last game, but the Knicks did.
- 他们 都 觉得 Knicks 会 输 掉 最后 一 场 比赛，结果 他 反而 赢 了。 They all thought the Knicks were going to lose the last game, but they won.
- 我 以为 Knicks 会 赢 第 一 场 比赛，结果 反而 是 最后 一 场。 I thought the Knicks would win the first game, but they won the last one.
却 only changes the whole sentence
Examples
- Chicago Bulls 没 赢 最后 一 场 比赛，Knicks 却 赢 了。 The Chicago Bulls didn't win their last game, but the Knicks did.
- 他们 都 觉得 Knicks 会 输 掉 最后 一 场 比赛，他 却 赢 了。 They all thought the Knicks would lose the last game, but they won.
- 我 以为 Knicks 会 赢 第 一 场 比赛，他 却 输 了。 I though the Knicks would win the first game, but they lost.
反而 and 却 express different degrees
Sentences with 反而 express a strong and sudden turn, possibly exceeding expectations. Sentences with 却 are just common turning points. 反而 could be a 180°degree turn, while 却 could be just a 90°.
Examples
- 我 帮 了 他，他 却 不 高兴 了。 This is a normal turn of events. I helped him, but he wasn't happy.
- 我 帮 了 他，他 反而 不 高兴 了。 The speaker thought the other person would be happy. I helped him, but he wasn't happy.
Special structures
Both of these often appear in set structures, as seen below:
不但没⋯⋯，反而
- 我 帮 了 他 那么 多，他 不但 没 谢谢 我，反而 有 点 不 高兴。
不但不⋯⋯，反而
反而却/却反而
- 他 离 这里 最 远，反而 却 第 一 个 到。
- 他 离 这里 最 远，却 反而 第 一 个 到。
却偏（偏）
- 我 告诉 他 要 下雨，他 却 偏 不 带 伞。
- 我 告诉 他 要 下雨，他 却 偏 偏 不 带 伞。
虽然⋯⋯却
- 虽然 我们 不 是 朋友，我 却 不 能 不 告诉 你。
但（是）却
- 她 喜欢 吃 甜食，但是 却 从 不 吃 巧克力。 She likes to eat sweet things, but she doesn't eat chocolate.
- 她 喜欢 吃 甜食，但 却 从 不 吃 巧克力。 She likes to eat sweet things, but she doesn't eat chocolate.
Example dialog
- A: 他们都在提自己的建议，你却坐在那里不说话？ They are all trying to assert their opinions, but you're there not talking. Why?
- B: 我以前经常提建议，你没表扬我，反而说我话多。我只好不说了。 I used to bring them up a lot, but you didn't commend me for it. Instead you said I spoke too much, so now I don't speak.
See Also
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (反而p.199 却p.459)
- 现代汉语虚词例释 (反而p.172 却p.403)
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (却p.1135 反而p.377)