Grammar Point:
反而 fǎn’ér is an adverb that introduces an action or a situation that is contrary to the expectations of the speaker. It is often translated as “on the contrary,” “instead,” or “but rather.”
Structure
Clause A + S + 反而 + Clause B
The first clause (Clause A) presents an expectation or assumption, while the second clause (Clause B) presents a contrasting result or outcome that goes against that expectation or assumption.
Since 反而 fǎn’ér is not a conjunction, it cannot simply link two sentences. Instead, you need to put it after the subject (if there is one) and before the verb in the second clause.
我以為他會生氣,結果他反而很開心我以为他会生气,结果他反而很开心
I thought he would be angry, but instead he was very happy.
我運動後沒有覺得比較有精神,反而累到只想睡覺我运动后没有觉得比较有精神,反而累到只想睡觉
I do not feel more energetic after exercise, but instead I am so tired that I just want to sleep.
朋友下定決心要減肥,可是三個月後反而胖了5公斤朋友下定决心要减肥,可是三个月后反而胖了5公斤
My friend was determined to lose weight, but three months later she gained 5 kg.
沒想到交了女朋友後,他的成績反而更好了没想到交了女朋友后,他的成绩反而更好了
I didn’t expect his grades to get better after he got a girlfriend.
Common Mistakes
沒想到交了女朋友後,反而他的成績更好了没想到交了女朋友后,反而他的成绩更好了 ❌
(反而 fǎn’ér needs to go after the subject…However, some native speakers do say it in a different order.)
S + 不但 + 不 or 沒 ⋯⋯,反而 unexpected outcome
This structure is also commonly used in Chinese grammar to express a contrastive relationship between two clauses. It is often translated as “not only…but also” or “not only…but instead. The 不但 búdàn is a conjunction that introduce the first clause and indicate that something unexpected happened in the second clause.
他不但沒做完作業,反而玩了一個晚上的遊戲他不但没做完作业,反而玩了一个晚上的游戏
Not only did he not finish his homework, but he also played games all night.
我幫了他,他不但沒說謝謝,反而還對我生氣我帮了他,他不但没说谢谢,反而还对我生气
I helped him. He not only did not say thank you, but also angry with me.
不仅 bùjǐn is another formal conjunction that is interchangeable with 不但 búdàn.
王先生不僅不還我之前借的錢,反而想跟我借更多錢王先生不仅不还我之前借的钱,反而想跟我借更多钱
Mr. Wang not only did not return the money I lent before, but also wanted to borrow more money from me.
發生問題時,政府不僅不想辦法解決,反而還怪人民发生问题时,政府不仅不想办法解决,反而还怪人民
When problems occur, the government not only does not want to solve them, but also blames the people.