一方で
🃏 Flashcard
一方で
ippou de
Tap to reveal usage
on one hand, on the other hand
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
ippou de
Post ID
51029
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
on one hand, on the other hand
📖 How to use it
Connects two contrasting facts or viewpoints, meaning 'on one hand... on the other hand...'.
Attaches to
Attaches to the plain form of verbs and adjectives, and to nouns followed by である (e.g., である一方で).
Use 一方で to present two sides of the same issue or two contrasting situations. It can connect clauses within a sentence or start a second sentence with 一方で alone. The pattern is neutral and works in both speech and writing, though it is more common in formal contexts like news or essays.
新しい店はおいしい一方で、値段が高い。
Atarashii mise wa oishii ippou de, nedan ga takai.
The new restaurant is tasty, but on the other hand, it's expensive.
彼は仕事ができる一方で、整理整頓が苦手だ。
Kare wa shigoto ga dekiru ippou de, seiri seiton ga nigate da.
He is good at his job, but on the other hand, he's bad at keeping things tidy.
この国は経済が発展している一方で、環境問題が深刻になっている。
Kono kuni wa keizai ga hatten shite iru ippou de, kankyou mondai ga shinkoku ni natte iru.
In this country, the economy is developing, but on the other hand, environmental problems are becoming serious.
Not 一方 (ippou) used alone meaning 'on the other hand' when starting a new sentence
一方で is used within a sentence or at the start of a clause to contrast. 一方 alone, often at the start of a sentence, also means 'on the other hand' but is more concise and formal.
Register
This pattern is neutral but leans formal; it is common in written language and formal speech, not in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
一方で
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat 一方で three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
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 一方で. 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 N2 Patterns
← Previous
一気に
in one go; without stopping; all at once
Next →
いわゆる
what is called; as it is called; so-called
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern 一方で mean?
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On one hand, on the other hand
What JLPT level is 一方で?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use 一方で in a sentence?
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Attach 一方で (ippou de) 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 一方で formal or casual Japanese?
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一方で 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 一方で long-term?
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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.