Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 6: 1/20

に反(はん)してGo against, Contrary to

formal writing, formal speech

Structure

Noun + に反(はん)し（て）
Noun + に反(はん)する + Noun

Details

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    Formal

About に反して

に反(はん)して, a combination of に and the て-form of 反(はん)する 'to oppose', or 'to go against', is a construction in Japanese that is used to present counter opinions or arguments in relation to the previous statement. Common translations include 'contrary to (A), (B)', and 'going against (A), (B)'.

に反(はん)して will appear after nouns, before expressing some opposing or contrasting point. Alternatively, に反(はん)する may be used when directly modifying the following noun.

  • 彼(かれ)らは会社(かいしゃ)のルールに反(はん)して交際(こうさい)をしているらしい。

    I heard that they are dating, which goes against the company rules.

    • 予想(よそう)に反(はん)してクライアントの反応(はんのう)がいまいちだったので、最初(さいしょ)からやり直(なお)さなきゃいけない。

      Contrary to our expectations, the client's response was not good, so we had to start over from the beginning.

      • 私(わたし)は上司(じょうし)の指示(しじ)に反(はん)することはできません。

        I cannot do anything that goes against my supervisor's instructions.

        Unlike に対(たい)して, に反(はん)して will often be used when a prediction does not match the actual reality of a situation.

        • 予想(よそう)に反(はん)して早(はや)く終(お)える事(こと)ができた。

          Contrary to our expectations, we were able to finish early. (Natural Japanese)

          • 予想(よそう)に対(たい)して早(はや)く終(お)える事(こと)ができた。

            Contrary to our expectations, we were able to finish early. (Unnatural Japanese)

            に反(はん)して is a fairly formal grammar pattern, so will be found mostly in literature, official documents, or speeches.

            Related

            Misc.

            Examples

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              神様(かみさま)の教(おし)えに反(はん)するようなことをしてはいけません。

              I cannot do things that go against God's doctrine.

              彼(かれ)は法律(ほうりつ)に反(はん)して、大学(だいがく)に裏口(うらぐち)入学(にゅうがく)した。

              Going against the law, he bought his way into university.

              うちのチームは予想(よそう)に反(はん)して、 昨年(さくねん)優勝(ゆうしょう)したチームに勝(か)ったよ！　

              Contrary to expectations, our team beat the team that won the race last year!

              モラルに反(はん)してまで成(な)り上(あ)がった彼(かれ)を、羨(うらや)ましいとは思(おも)いません。

              I am not envious of he, who even went against morality to move up in the world.

              予想(よそう)に反(はん)してものすごい売行(うれゆ)きで、社員(しゃいん)一同(いちどう)驚(おどろ)いている。

              Contrary to expectations there was a huge (sales) demand, surprising all of the staff.

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