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かえって Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Meanings 1
adverb
on the contrary ; rather ; instead ; all the more
usually written using kana alone
Indicates that the actual result is opposite to what was expected, or that something increases contrary to expectation. Often used when an action meant to improve a situation makes it worse, or when a negative situation surprisingly leads to a positive outcome.
After taking the medicine, I felt worse instead.
Written forms かえって Usage 91%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 却って and 反って are rare and may be confusing.
却かえ って Usage 9%
Rare kanji spelling; 却 is not a jōyō kanji reading for this word.
反かえ って
Rare kanji spelling; easily confused with 反って (そって).
Kanji 却 instead, on the contrary, rather Similar words むしろ むしろ is used to express a preference or a more accurate description, while かえって emphasizes an unexpected or contrary result.
逆ぎゃく に 逆に can also mean 'on the contrary' or 'conversely', but is more general and can be used for logical reversals, not necessarily unexpected outcomes.
Etymology Derived from the verb 返る (かえる, 'to return, to turn back'), with the て-form adverbialized. The sense of 'contrary to expectation' developed from the idea of something turning back or reversing.
