〜に反して: 'Contrary To' (Expectations)
Marking the opposite of what was expected
〜に反して signals that the outcome contradicts a prediction, expectation, hope, or rule. It's commonly used with 予想 (prediction), 期待 (expectation), and 規則 (rule).
やったんの予想に反して、試験は簡単だった。
やったんの よそうに はんして、しけんは かんたんだった。
Contrary to Yattan's expectations, the exam was easy.
予想に反して is the most common collocation.
周囲の反対に反して、彼女と結婚した。
しゅういの はんたいに はんして、かのじょと けっこんした。
Contrary to the opposition of those around him, he married her.
Can also mark going against others' wishes or objections.
Form
〜に反して attaches to a noun, most often one expressing expectation, prediction, wish, or rule. Before a noun, the adnominal form 〜に反する is used instead.
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + clause | Noun + に反して | 予想に反して、〜 |
| Before a noun | Noun + に反する + Noun | 期待に反する結果 |
モチの期待に反する結果になったが、彼女は諦めなかった。
モチの きたいに はんする けっかに なったが、かのじょは あきらめなかった。
The result went against Mochi's expectations, but she didn't give up.
に反する modifies the following noun 結果.
Nuance: に反して vs. に対して
Don't confuse に反して ("contrary to," implying an outcome that contradicts something) with に対して ("toward / regarding," a neutral marker for the target of an action or attitude, as in 彼に対して優しい "kind toward him"). They look similar but 反 signals opposition while 対 is neutral.
The short version
- 〜に反して = "contrary to (an expectation, prediction, wish, or rule)"
- Attaches to: Noun + に反して (or に反する before a noun)
- Nuance/register: neutral-to-formal written style; frequently paired with 予想・期待
- Don't confuse with: に対して ("toward/regarding"), which carries no sense of opposition
Practice it
Choose に反して where the outcome contradicts an expectation.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
＿＿＿、試験は簡単だった。
Where 〜に反して fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- 〜に行く · N5 — 〜に行く/来る/帰る says you go, come, or return somewhere to do something. Learn the ます-stem + に pattern, suru-nouns like 買い物に行く, and how to mark the place.
- 〜てください · N5 — 〜てください is the standard way to politely ask someone to do something ('please do…'). Learn the formation, the negative 〜ないでください, softer variations, and see clear examples.
More N2 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜に限る — 〜に限る means 'nothing beats / the best thing is,' expressing a personal, experience-based recommendation: 暑い日は冷たいビールに限る ('on a hot day, nothing beats a cold beer'). Attaches to nouns or plain-form verbs.
- 〜に越したことはない — 〜に越したことはない means 'it's best if…, though not strictly necessary' — a mild, universally-agreeable recommendation: 安いに越したことはない ('cheaper is always better'). Attaches to plain-form verbs and adjectives.
- 〜に際して — 〜に際して means 'on the occasion of' or 'at the time of' — a formal N2 expression used for special, significant events like graduations, weddings, or openings, often in speeches.
- 〜に先立ち — 〜に先立ち means 'before' or 'prior to' — a formal N2 expression for something done in preparation for, or ahead of, a major upcoming event, common in announcements and news.
- 〜に従って — 〜に従って has two jobs: 'in accordance with' rules or instructions, and 'as X, so Y' for proportional change. Learn both senses and how to tell them apart from に則って.
- 〜にしたら — 〜にしたら marks whose point of view a statement is made from — 子どもにしたら不満だろう ('from the child's perspective, it's probably unsatisfying'). Learn the form and how it differs from にとって.