JLPT N2Written, formal

に反はんしてcontrary to; against

Things turned out the opposite of what was expected or hoped for, or someone acted against a rule or a wish. It is written and careful language; in casual talk people more often say のに or 予よ想そうと違ちがって.

予よ想そうに反はんして、売うり上あげは前ぜん年ねんを上うわ回まわった。

Contrary to expectations, sales exceeded the previous year's figure.

before a noun

規き則そくに反はんする行こう為いは処しょ分ぶんの対たい象しょうとなる。

Conduct that violates the rules is subject to disciplinary action.

How to form it

Noun + に反はんして　／　Noun + に反はんする + noun

Formal writing shortens に反はんして to に反はんし. Before a noun に反はんした is used too: 期き待たいに反はんした結けっ果か. The expectation goes in as a noun: "contrary to what I expected" is 予よ想そうに反はんして.

Before it: What was expected, wanted or laid down: 予よ想そう, 期き待たい, 予よ報ほう, 意い向こう (wishes), 規き則そく, 法ほう律りつ, 方ほう針しん (policy).
After it: What happened instead, better or worse, or what someone did all the same.
Where you'll meet it: News, reports, essays, careful speech. 予よ想そうに反はんして and 期き待たいに反はんして are the two you will meet most, said as well as written.
Set phrase: 意いに反はんして, against someone's will.

In use

期き待たいに反はんして、新しん製せい品ひんへの反はん応のうは冷ひややかだった。

Contrary to our hopes, the response to the new product was cool.

本ほん人にんの意い向こうに反はんして、会かい議ぎの内ない容ようが公こう表ひょうされた。

The contents of the meeting were made public against the person's wishes.

会かい社しゃの方ほう針しんに反はんし、担たん当とう者しゃは情じょう報ほうを公こう表ひょうした。

Against company policy, the person in charge made the information public.

に反はんし: the short written form.

Going against is not opposing

English "against" is two things. Being against a plan, opposing it, is に反はん対たいする. に反はんする is to go against something: to break a rule, or to be other than what someone wants.

住じゅう民みんはその決けっ定ていに反はん対たいしている。

The residents are against the decision.

They oppose it.

その決けっ定ていは住じゅう民みんの意い向こうに反はんしている。

The decision goes against the residents' wishes.

It isn't what they want. Nobody has to protest.

Close neighbours

のにN4

How the same surprise is said out loud: "even though".

雨あめの予よ報ほうだったのに、午ご後ごから晴はれた。

The forecast said rain, and yet it cleared up in the afternoon.

と違ちがってN3

"Unlike": the everyday word, for any two things that differ. に反はんして needs an expectation, a wish or a rule to go against.

平へい日じつと違ちがって、日にち曜よう日びはバスの本ほん数すうが少すくない。

Unlike on weekdays, there are fewer buses on Sundays.

に対たいしてN3

Two different things side by side: A is like this, B is like that. Neither goes against anything.

兄あにが静しずかなのに対たいして、弟おとうとはよくしゃべる。

My older brother is quiet, whereas my younger brother talks a lot.

に沿そってN2

The opposite: in line with a plan, a policy or someone's wishes.

計けい画かくに沿そって調ちょう査さを進すすめます。

We will carry out the survey in line with the plan.

Check yourself

1What had most people expected?

大おお方かたの予よ想そうに反はんして、新しん人じんの候こう補ほが当とう選せんした。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

これは明あきらかに契けい約やく（　　）行こう為いだ。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

予よ報ほうに反はんして、午ご後ごから空そらが晴はれた。

Contrary to the forecast, the sky cleared in the afternoon.

見みた目めに反はんして、この装そう置ちは操そう作さが簡かん単たんだ。

Contrary to its appearance, this device is easy to operate.

住じゅう民みんの意い向こうに反はんする決けっ定ていは、見み直なおされるべきだ。

A decision that goes against the residents' wishes should be reconsidered.

市し場じょうの流ながれに反はんし、同どう社しゃは実じつ店てん舗ぽを増ふやしている。

Going against the market trend, the company is increasing its number of physical stores.