反而 expresses that something turned out contrary to expectations. It means "on the contrary," "instead," or "actually" when the result is the opposite of what was expected.
Use 反而 when:
The outcome is opposite to what was expected
You want to emphasize an unexpected contrast
After taking medicine, the illness instead got worse.
He didn't get angry; on the contrary, he laughed.
反而 often appears after a comma, introducing the unexpected result.
反而 = contrary to expectation
- 吃药后反而更严重 (got worse instead after medicine)
Requires contrast with expectation
- Set up what was expected first
Similar to 却 but stronger
After taking medicine, the illness instead got worse.
He did not get angry; on the contrary, he laughed.
After resting for a day, I instead felt more tired.
Find real examples
Discover this pattern in manga, dramas & more
Save for spaced repetition
Add sentences to your study deck
Practice 反而 and other grammar patterns with manga, dramas, and more.
Start learning free