{{Grammar Box}} 

反而 (fǎn'ér) is used to express "on the contrary" or "in contrast," with 反而 going in the second part of the sentence.  Note that the meaning of 反而 goes beyond just "but" and is usually used to explain that something is totally the opposite of what one was expecting.



== Standard Structure with 反而==

=== Structure ===

Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces the part that is totally opposite of one's expectations.

The overall structure of sentences that use 反而 is something like this:

<div class="jiegou">
Sentence， Subj. + 反而 + ⋯⋯
</div>

It's also important to point out that 反而 is not a [[conjunctions|conjunction]]; it's an [[adverbs|adverb]].  Practically speaking, this means that rather than joining two statements, it goes ''inside'' a statement (within the second clause).  Specifically, it needs to come ''after the subject'' and ''before the verb''.  (Note that when you use a conjunction like 但是 it comes ''before'' the subject!  反而 is different in this respect.  Also, rather than ''replacing'' 但是, it can work with it to add emphasis.

Also, sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted.  If there is a subject, however, 反而 definitely need to come ''after'' it.

<div class="liju">

<ul>
<li class="x">我 帮 了 她 ， <strong>反而</strong> 她 生气 了 。</li>
<li class="o">我 帮 了 她 ， 她 <strong>反而</strong> 生气 了 。</li>
</ul>

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*吃 了 这 个 药 ，病 <em>反而</em> 加重了。<span class="trans">After taking medicine, the illness didn't get better. On the contrary, it got even worse.</span>
*你 的 帮助 <em>反而</em> 给 我们 带来 了 麻烦。<span class="trans">Your help wasn't really helpful ; on the contrary, it gave us trouble.</span>
*这 个 新 系统 <em>反而</em> 降低 了 我们 的 工作 效率。<span class="trans">This new system didn't improve our working efficiency. On the contrary, it reduced it.</span>

</div>

== Fuller Structure ==

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Sentence，Subj. 不但 + 不 / 没 ⋯⋯，反而 + ⋯⋯
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*吃 了 药 ，病 <em>不但</em> <strong>没 好</strong> ，<em>反而</em> 加重 了。<span class="trans">After taking medicine, the illness didn't get better. On the contrary, it got even worse.</span>
*我 帮 了 她 ， 她 <em>不但</em> <strong>不 谢 我</strong>， <em>反而</em> 生气 了。<span class="trans">I helped her and she didn't thank me. On the contrary, she got very mad.</span>
*你 这样 做，<em>不但</em> <strong>没 帮到 我们</strong>，<em>反而</em> 给 我们 带来 了 麻烦。<span class="trans">You didn't help us by doing this. On the contrary, you brought us trouble.</span>

</div>

==See also==

*[[The "However" Adverb "que"]]
*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 259) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (p. 84) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (pp. 83, 151-2) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]

=== Websites ===

* 汉语教学: [[http://www.pep.com.cn/xgjy/hyjx/hyxxzy/hyxx/cyxx/201009/t20100901_855691.htm 反而]]

[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|反而|B2|⋯⋯，反而⋯⋯|他 没有 放弃 ， <em>反而</em> 更加 努力 了 ！|grammar point|ASGX5QTV}}
{{Similar|The "However" Adverb "que"}}
{{Similar|Expressing Contrariness with "dao"}}
{{Similar|The pattern "it's not…, it's…"}}
{{Used for|Contrasting}}
{{Used for|Denying and refusing}}
{{Structure|"But" Statements}}