compared to; in contrast to; unlike ~ (に引き換え) – Japanese Grammar に引き換え (ni hikikae)

Q: What JLPT level is に引き換え?

JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Q: How do you use に引き換え in a sentence?

Attach に引き換え to the appropriate verb or noun form. Compared to; in contrast to; unlike ~

Q: Is に引き換え formal or casual Japanese?

に引き換え is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

に引き換え

N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

ni hikikae

compared to; in contrast to; unlike ~

と相まって to aimatte とばかりに to bakari ni を余儀なくされる o yogi naku sareru んばかりに n bakari ni かたがた katagata にしたところで /としたところで ni shita tokoro de / to shita tokoro de に難くない ni katakunai 甲斐もなく kai mo naku どうにも〜ない dou nimo~nai でなくてなんだろう denakute nan darou がましい gamashii こととて koto tote こそすれ koso sure ようが / ようと you ga / you to もはや mohaya ではあるまいし dewa arumai shi とみると to miru to もしくは moshikuwa ものとする mono to suru たら〜たで tara~tade と相まって to aimatte とばかりに to bakari ni を余儀なくされる o yogi naku sareru んばかりに n bakari ni かたがた katagata にしたところで /としたところで ni shita tokoro de / to shita tokoro de に難くない ni katakunai 甲斐もなく kai mo naku どうにも〜ない dou nimo~nai でなくてなんだろう denakute nan darou がましい gamashii こととて koto tote こそすれ koso sure ようが / ようと you ga / you to もはや mohaya ではあるまいし dewa arumai shi とみると to miru to もしくは moshikuwa ものとする mono to suru たら〜たで tara~tade

🃏 Flashcard

に引き換え

ni hikikae

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compared to; in contrast to; unlike ~

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N1

Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Reading ni hikikae

Post ID 51296

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

compared to; in contrast to; unlike ~

📖 How to use it

Expresses contrast or comparison, meaning 'compared to' or 'in contrast to'.

Attaches to Attach to a noun (often with の) or a plain form (verb/adjective in dictionary or past form). For な-adjectives, use な before のに引き換え or attach to the noun directly.

This pattern highlights a stark contrast between two things, often implying that the second is notably different from the first. It can be used with nouns, verbs, and adjectives. When used with a noun, it often appears as 〜のに引き換え, but 〜に引き換え directly after a noun is also possible, especially in writing. With verbs and adjectives, use the plain past or non-past form.

The nuance is that the contrast is almost surprising or remarkable, often used in formal or written contexts. It is not common in daily casual conversation; you would more likely hear 〜と違って or 〜に比べて. In speech, it might sound a bit stiff, so reserve it for essays, reports, or formal presentations.

Note that the order matters: the first item is the basis for comparison, and the second is contrasted. The pattern can also be used at the beginning of a sentence to mean 'in contrast'.

兄は社交的なのに引き換え、弟はとても内気だ。

Ani wa shakōteki na no ni hikikae, otōto wa totemo uchiki da.

Compared to his sociable older brother, the younger brother is very shy.

去年の不作に引き換え、今年は豊作だった。

Kyonen no fusaku ni hikikae, kotoshi wa hōsaku datta.

In contrast to last year's poor harvest, this year was abundant.

彼女はいつも冷静なのに引き換え、彼は感情的になりやすい。

Kanojo wa itsumo reisei na no ni hikikae, kare wa kanjōteki ni nariyasui.

Unlike her, who is always calm, he tends to get emotional.

Not に比べてに比べて simply compares and can show similarity or difference, while に引き換え emphasizes a stark contrast, often with an implication that the difference is notable or surprising. Use に比べて for neutral comparison, に引き換え for highlighting opposition.

Register Formal and primarily used in written Japanese, such as essays, reports, or formal speeches; not common in casual conversation.

🎯 Quick Quiz

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に引き換え

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Press Hear it and repeat に引き換え three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using に引き換え. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns

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にあって

at; on; during; in the condition of ~

に至る / に至った

leads to; come to a conclusion

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern に引き換え mean? ▼

Compared to; in contrast to; unlike ~

What JLPT level is に引き換え? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use に引き換え in a sentence? ▼

Attach に引き換え (ni hikikae) 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 に引き換え formal or casual Japanese? ▼

に引き換え is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember に引き換え 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.