反之
fǎn zhī HSK 6

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

勤奋带来成功,反之则导致失败。
Qínfèn dàilái chénggōng, fǎnzhī zé dǎozhì shībài.
Diligence brings success, conversely it leads to failure.
他喜欢安静,反之他弟弟很吵闹。
Tā xǐhuān ānjìng, fǎnzhī tā dìdi hěn chǎonào.
He likes quiet, on the contrary his younger brother is very noisy.
尊重别人,反之别人也会尊重你。
Zūnzhòng biérén, fǎnzhī biérén yě huì zūnzhòng nǐ.
Respect others, conversely others will also respect you.
他同意,反之我反对。
Tā tóngyì, fǎnzhī wǒ fǎnduì.
He agrees, conversely I disagree.
她高兴,反之他难过。
Tā gāoxìng, fǎnzhī tā nánguò.
She is happy, on the contrary he is sad.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 反之 as 'reverse it' – 反 means 'opposite' or 'reverse,' and 之 is a classical Chinese pronoun meaning 'it.' So, 反之 literally suggests 'reversing it,' which matches its function of introducing the opposite idea.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is formal and is most commonly used in written Chinese, such as in essays, reports, or formal speeches. It can also be used in spoken language in formal contexts. It typically connects two contrasting clauses or sentences to emphasize opposition.

📖 Grammar Points

反之 is used to connect two clauses or sentences. The structure is often: [First statement]。反之,[Opposite statement]。For example, in '谦虚使人进步,反之,骄傲使人退步,' it contrasts humility with pride. It can also follow conditional structures like '如果...,反之...' to show alternatives.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese communication, using 反之 reflects a preference for balanced, logical expression, often found in proverbs or educational contexts to teach moral or practical lessons by contrasting outcomes.

🔄 Similar Words

相反 (xiāngfǎn) also means 'on the contrary' but is more general and can be used as an adjective or adverb. 反之 is specifically a conjunction that links two contrasting statements in a more structured way, often implying a logical reversal.

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