に対してIn contrast to
に対して places two distinct people, groups, times, facts, or properties side by side and makes their difference explicit. It is especially useful when you want to present the two sides as a clear, matched pair.
Build a matched contrast
The first clause establishes one member of the comparison, and the following clause presents the other. Keep their roles parallel and make the dimension of contrast easy to recognize—for example, weather in two regions, behavior of two people, or figures from two years.
Two common shapes
A full clause normally takes のに対して. A previously stated fact can also be picked up with それに対して.
日本の夏は湿度が高いのに対して、地中海沿岸の夏は乾燥している。
Summers in Japan are humid, whereas summers along the Mediterranean coast are dry.
AnalyzeThe two members are seasons in different regions, and the contrast is humidity.
兄は慎重に計画を立てる。それに対して、妹はまず行動してから考える。
My older brother plans carefully. In contrast, my younger sister acts first and thinks afterward.
AnalyzeThe second sentence contrasts the younger sister's approach with the entire first statement.
都市部に対して、農村部では高齢者の割合が高い。
In contrast to urban areas, rural areas have a higher proportion of older residents.
AnalyzeThis is the direct noun pattern. The paired regions and the stated difference make the contrastive reading clear.
Choosing the right comparison pattern
に対して presents two distinct members in a relatively balanced contrast. に比べて instead treats one item as the baseline for evaluating another. Also note that bare noun + に対して can have a separate meaning in which the noun is the target of an action, attitude, or feeling; the contrastive reading needs a clearly matched pair.
Factual or evaluative contrasts
The contrast can be purely factual, such as different figures or weather conditions, or it can compare behavior and qualities. The construction itself does not imply praise or criticism; that comes from the surrounding words.
More examples
朝の便は満席だったのに対して、夕方の便には空席が多かった。
The morning flight was full, whereas the evening flight had many empty seats.
Analyze父が即答したのに対して、母はしばらく考え込んだ。
My father answered immediately, whereas my mother thought about it for a while.
Analyze東側の部屋は午前中に日が当たるのに対して、西側の部屋は午後に日が当たる。
The rooms on the east side get sunlight in the morning, whereas those on the west side get it in the afternoon.
Analyze昨年は応募者が減った。それに対して、今年は三割増えた。
The number of applicants fell last year. In contrast, it increased by thirty percent this year.
Analyze旧校舎は静かなのに対して、新校舎はいつも活気がある。
The old school building is quiet, whereas the new one is always lively.
Analyze海沿いの地域では雨だったのに対して、内陸部では雪になった。
It rained in the coastal areas, whereas it turned to snow inland.
Analyze