语法 · HSK 4–5
反而 (fǎn’ér) vs 却 (què): "On the Contrary" vs "However" in Chinese
Both are adverbs that normally go AFTER the subject; 却 can never go before it. 却 is a general "however / yet" that contrasts any two clauses: 他很忙，却每天抽时间运动. 反而 is narrower and stronger: it means the outcome went in the exact opposite direction of what you would expect ("instead of getting better, it got worse"): 吃了药，病不但没好，反而更重了.
速查对比Quick comparison
| Word | Pinyin | Part of speech | Core meaning | Typical pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 反而 | fǎn ér | adverb | on the contrary; instead | 不但不/没 + Expected，(Subject) + 反而 + Opposite |
| 却 | què | adverb | but; yet | Clause 1，Subject + 却 + Verb |
句型Patterns
Clause 1，Subject + 却 + VerbGeneral contrast; 却 always sits after the subject.不但不/没 + Expected，(Subject) + 反而 + OppositeReversed outcome ("on the contrary / instead").
例句Examples
- 他知道这件事，却什么也没说。tā zhī dao zhè jiàn shì, què shén me yě méi shuō.He knew about this, yet said nothing.
- 刮风以后，天气不但没凉快，反而更热了。guā fēng yǐ hòu, tiān qì bú dàn méi liáng kuai, fǎn ér gèng rè le.After the wind picked up, instead of cooling down, the weather got even hotter.
- 我本来想帮他，没想到反而给他添了麻烦。wǒ běn lái xiǎng bāng tā, méi xiǎng dào fǎn ér gěi tā tiān le má fan.I originally wanted to help him, but unexpectedly caused him trouble instead.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗虽然很贵，却很多人买。
✓虽然很贵，却有很多人买。 / 虽然很贵，很多人却愿意买。
却 is an adverb, not a conjunction like 但是; it must go after the subject, right before the verb.
-
✗今天下雨了，我反而带了伞。
✓今天没下雨，我却带了伞。
反而 requires an outcome that reverses a normal cause-and-effect expectation.
重点词语Words in this guide
- 却 què
Common questions
Can 但是 and 却 be used together in the same clause?
Yes! Because 但是 is a conjunction (before the subject) and 却 is an adverb (after the subject), 但是他却没来 is very natural and idiomatic.