Structure
Noun+にひきかえ
[な]Adjective+な・である+の+にひきかえ
[い]Adjective+の+にひきかえ
Verb+の+にひきかえ
Phrase (A)。それにひきかえ、Noun は+Phrase (B)
Details
Register
Standard
使用域
一般
About にひきかえ
に引き換え is a grammar pattern that is used for making contrasts between things, and will be translated as ‘in comparison to (A), (B)’, or ‘in stark contrast to (A), (B)’. The literal translation is ‘pulling back and switching away from (A), (B)’. This ‘switching away from’ portion may be used as a reminder of the large size of the difference that this grammar pattern usually indicates.
に引き換え is a combination of the case-marking particle に, the conjunctive form of the う-Verb 引く ‘to pull’, 引き, and the conjunctive form of the る-Verb 換える ‘to switch between’, or ‘to interchange’, 換え.
に引き換え may follow almost any type of word, but will require a の to precede it before い-Adjectives or verbs, and なの to precede it before な-Adjectives.
Additionally, それにひきかえ may be used to begin sentences where the comparison is being made to a previous statement.
に引き換え is a combination of the case-marking particle に, the conjunctive form of the う-Verb 引く ‘to pull’, 引き, and the conjunctive form of the る-Verb 換える ‘to switch between’, or ‘to interchange’, 換え.
に引き換え may follow almost any type of word, but will require a の to precede it before い-Adjectives or verbs, and なの to precede it before な-Adjectives.
-
周りの人たちはどんどん就職していっているのに引き換え、俺はまだ面接さえしていない。In stark contrast to the people around me, who are getting jobs, I haven’t even gone to an interview.
- うちの娘は頭がいいのに引き換え、うちの長男はゲームばかりして全然勉強をしようともしない。In stark contrast to my daughter, who is smart, all my eldest son wants to do is play videogames and won’t even try to study.
- 親戚の全員が裕福なのに引き換え、なぜか私の家族だけが貧乏。In stark contrast to all my relatives, who are wealthy, my family is poor for some reason.
- 去年の夏に引き換え、今年の夏はえげつなく暑い。In stark contrast to summer last year, summer this year is extremely hot.
Additionally, それにひきかえ may be used to begin sentences where the comparison is being made to a previous statement.
-
周りの子たちを見てみなさいよ!みんな来年から大学よ!それに引き換え、あんたったら。。。Look at the kids around you! They are all going to college starting next year! In stark contrast to that you…
Caution
Both (A) and (B) will be facts that are plainly observable or measurable. Due to this, に引き換え will not be used in sentences that make assumptions or guesses.-
今は寒いのに引き換え、昼になったら暖かくなるかもしれない。In stark contrast to it being cold right now, it would probably get warmer at noon. (Unnatural Japanese)
Examples
母親の友達の息子さんは、弁護士として立派に働いているのにひきかえ、僕は・・・(まだフリーターだ)。
In stark contrast to my mother's friend's son, who is working prominently as a lawyer, I am… (still a permanent part-timer)
Since one side of the comparison is evaluated positively, and the other negatively, the comment or description can be omitted and the reader or listener will get the intended meaning from the context.
姉は積極的で活発な性格にひきかえ、弟の健太郎はとても無気力だ。
In stark contrast to the elder sister's lively personality, the younger brother, Kentaro, is very apathetic.
兄は優秀な成績をおさめている。それにひきかえ妹の方は遊んでばかりだ。
The elder brother has excellent grades. In stark contrast to that, the younger sister is just mucking around.
前回のテストにひきかえ今回のテストは難しい。
In stark contrast to the previous test, this one is hard.
隣の家の猫は痩せていて頭がいいのにひきかえうちの猫はぐうたらしてばかりだなあ。
In stark contrast to the neighbor's cat, which is skinny and smart, our cat is just loafing around.
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
Compare & Contrast
Imabi
にひきかえ
LearnJapaneseDaily
にひきかえ
JapaneseTest4You
にひきかえ Meaning
JLPTSensei
Offline
Try N1
Page 59
Shin Kanzen Master N1 Bunpou
Page 66
Sou Matome Bunpou N1
Page 94
A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar
Page 380
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
にひきかえ – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (1 in total)
wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV
Is this phrase more commonly written in kana or as に引き換え? I get 2.6 million hits on に引き換え and only 500,000 for にひきかえ on Google, so I was surprised to see it here on Bunpro in kana only.
Got questions about にひきかえ? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion