against; contrary to; in contrast to (に反して) – Japanese Grammar に反して (ni hanshite)

Q: What JLPT level is に反して?

JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Q: How do you use に反して in a sentence?

Attach に反して to the appropriate verb or noun form. Against; contrary to; in contrast to

Q: Is に反して formal or casual Japanese?

に反して can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

に反して

N3 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

ni hanshite

against; contrary to; in contrast to

とは限らない towa kagiranai ように見える you ni mieru にしたがって ni shitagatte に対して ni taishite として toshite と言うと to iu to ずに zuni ために tame ni たびに tabi ni そうもない sou mo nai っぱなし ppanashi にしても ni shite mo ことはない koto wa nai は別として wa betsu toshite 例えば tatoeba てばかりいる te bakari iru 向け muke 確かに tashika ni にかけて ni kakete どうしても doushitemo とは限らない towa kagiranai ように見える you ni mieru にしたがって ni shitagatte に対して ni taishite として toshite と言うと to iu to ずに zuni ために tame ni たびに tabi ni そうもない sou mo nai っぱなし ppanashi にしても ni shite mo ことはない koto wa nai は別として wa betsu toshite 例えば tatoeba てばかりいる te bakari iru 向け muke 確かに tashika ni にかけて ni kakete どうしても doushitemo

🃏 Flashcard

に反して

ni hanshite

Tap to reveal usage

against; contrary to; in contrast to

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N3

Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Reading ni hanshite

Post ID 50886

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

against; contrary to; in contrast to

📖 How to use it

Expresses that something is contrary to expectations, rules, or a prediction.

Attaches to Attach to nouns directly (e.g., 予想に反して). For verbs, use the dictionary form + のに反して (e.g., 期待するのに反して).

This pattern is used when reality does not match what was expected, promised, or commanded. It often appears in news, essays, or formal speech, and it carries a sense of evaluation—the speaker is noting a contradiction with a stated standard or prediction. For example, if a product's sales were expected to be high but were low, you can say 予想に反して売り上げが低かった. It can also appear with words like 命令 (order), 期待 (expectation), 予想 (prediction), or 噂 (rumor).

To form it, simply place に反して after a noun. If you need to attach a verb, use the plain present form (dictionary form) followed by のに反して. This is not used with casual topics in daily conversation; it sounds slightly formal and literary, so it fits written reports, news, or speeches.

予想に反して、試験は簡単だった。

Yosō ni hanshite, shiken wa kantan datta.

Contrary to my expectation, the exam was easy.

彼は命令に反して、ドアを開けた。

Kare wa meirei ni hanshite, doa o aketa.

He opened the door against orders.

周囲の期待に反して、彼女は試合に負けた。

Shūi no kitai ni hanshite, kanojo wa shiai ni maketa.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, she lost the match.

Not に反する (ni hansuru) に反する is the attributive form that modifies a noun (e.g., 規則に反する行為), while に反して is the adverbial form that connects to a clause. Use に反して when you want to say 'contrary to X, something happens.'

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

に反して

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat に反して three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using に反して. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

⏰

Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns

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に違いない

I’m sure/ certain; no doubt that

にかけて

over (a period); concerning; regarding~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern に反して mean? ▼

Against; contrary to; in contrast to

What JLPT level is に反して? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use に反して in a sentence? ▼

Attach に反して (ni hanshite) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is に反して formal or casual Japanese? ▼

に反して is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember に反して long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.