かえって

か

え

っ

て

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

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.

薬くすりを飲のんだら、かえって気き分ぶんが悪わるくなった。
After taking the medicine, I felt worse instead.
急いそいだら、かえって遅おそくなってしまった。
By hurrying, I ended up being later.
彼かれは失しっ敗ぱいして、かえってやる気きが出でたようだ。
After failing, he seems to have become more motivated, rather than discouraged.

See all 121 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

かえって〈事こと〉が悪あっ化かするto actually make a situation worse (despite good intentions)
薬くすりを飲のみすぎたら、かえって病びょう状じょうが悪あっ化かした。
Taking too much medicine actually made my condition worse.
かえって〈人ひと〉に迷めい惑わくをかけるto end up causing someone trouble contrary to one's intention
手伝てつだおうとしたら、かえって彼かれに迷めい惑わくをかけてしまった。
I tried to help, but I ended up causing him trouble instead.
かえって〈形けい容よう詞し〉になるto end up becoming more/less (adjective) than intended
安やすい商しょう品ひんを買かったら、かえって高たかくなった。
I bought the cheap product, but it ended up costing more in the end.
〈事こと〉でかえってよかったto turn out to be a good thing after all, despite seeming bad
試し験けんに落おちて、かえってよかったのかもしれない。
Failing the exam might have actually turned out for the best.

Grammar

かえってthe opposite result; it backfiredN3

Kanji

却instead, on the contrary, rather
反anti-

Related words

むしろN3
むしろ expresses a preference or a more fitting description ('rather this than that'), while 却って highlights that a result unexpectedly turned out the opposite of what was intended.
逆ぎゃくに
逆に is a general way to say 'conversely' for any logical reversal, whereas 却って specifically implies the outcome was unexpectedly contrary to what was intended or hoped for.
それどころか
かえって points out a result contrary to what was expected from a single action, while それどころか negates an entire preceding statement and escalates to a stronger claim.
いっそN2
かえって means 'on the contrary, unexpectedly,' while いっそ adds the feeling that the extreme result is oddly preferable.

Written forms

かえってUsage91%
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Usage9%
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).

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.