Structure
Phrase (A) + かえって + Phrase (B)
Details
Register
Formal
使用域
硬い
About 却って
In order to revoke, or take a step back from a statement that has already been made, 却って will often be used. 却って can translate as 'rather', or 'all the more'. If a sentence consists of '(A) 却って, (B)', what it means is 'putting aside (A), (B)'. 却って is an adverb.
- 手伝ってくれてるのはありがたいけど、却って邪魔になってるからあっちに行ってくれる?ごめんね。I am grateful that you are helping me, but putting that aside, since you are in the way, can you go over there please? I'm sorry.
- お母さんを元気にさせるつもりだったけど、却って怒らせてしまった。I was supposed to make my mom happy, but rather than that I actually made her angry.
Fun Fact
Another reading of the kanji used in 却って is 却く, which means 'to retreat'. This further highlights 却って's nuance of 'stepping away' from the (A) statement, to show the real result of (B).- 「宿題やれ!」って言われると、却ってやりたくなくなる。When someone tells me to do my homework, taking a step back from that, it makes me not want to do it even more.
- 遅く走った方が安全だと思うかもしれないけど却って危ないから、高速道路ではスピードを落とさないで。You might think that it is safer to drive slower on a highway, but taking a step back from that, it is actually dangerous.
Synonyms
Examples
笑わせるつもりだったけど、却って泣かせてしまった。
I intended to make her laugh, but on the contrary I unfortunately made her cry.
お手伝いのつもりでしょうが、かえって迷惑です。
I realize that you are trying to help, on the contrary you are getting in the way.
近道のつもりが、かえって遠回りしてしまった。
What was supposed to be a shortcut, on the contrary turned out to be the long way around.
手術をしたら却って悪化する場合もあります。
On the contrary, if you have an operation your condition could worsen.
言い訳するとかえって悪い印象を与える。
You'll make all the more of a bad impression if you make excuses.
印象を与える means 'to give an impression'.
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
Example Sentences
Jisho
Explanation of かえって
Reddit Learn Japanese
Offline
Tobira
Page 358
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 250
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
却って – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
eefara
Is there any way to know other than context when かえって means “all the more” rather than “on the contrary”?
mattbacon
It’s when you would expect whatever the topic is to be less based on the first clause, and you negate that in the second clause. Example: “She told me not to, but I just wanted to do it all the more.”
Got questions about 却って? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion