～かえって
kaette
Contrary to expectations; instead; rather
Formation 接続
State the expectation or intention, then use かえって before the contrary result. No special conjugation is required.
Explanation 説明
Use this adverb when the actual result runs against an expectation or original intention. The unexpected result can be positive or negative. It does not require a special verb conjugation.
Examples 例文
-
早く寝ようとしたのに、かえって目がさえてしまいました。
I tried to go to bed early, but ended up feeling more awake.
-
近道をしたら、かえって時間がかかりました。
Taking a shortcut actually took longer.
-
説明を増やすと、かえって分かりにくくなります。
Adding more explanation can actually make it harder to understand.
-
雨の日は人が少なくて、かえってゆっくり見学できます。
On rainy days there are fewer people, so you can actually look around at leisure.
-
手伝うつもりが、かえって迷惑をかけてしまいました。
I meant to help, but ended up causing trouble instead.
How related patterns differ 比較
とても～ない emphasizes inability, unlike affirmative とても meaning very. むしろ favors a more fitting alternative, and こそ emphasizes the exact referent. なんて～だろう expresses an exclamation; 不思議ではない judges an event as understandable.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ～かえって | Contrary to expectations; instead; rather | 早く寝ようとしたのに、かえって目がさえてしまいました。 I tried to go to bed early, but ended up feeling more awake. |
| 〜とても〜ない | Cannot possibly do; be quite unable to do something. | この量の仕事は、今日中にはとても終えられない。 I cannot possibly finish this amount of work today. |
| ～むしろ | Rather; instead; if anything | 自由な考え方が必要とされる仕事は、大人よりむしろ小さい子供の方が得意かもしれません。 Young children may actually be better than adults at work that requires free thinking. |
| ～こそ | Precisely; it is this that; because of this very reason | 人は失敗してこそ成長するものだ。 It is precisely through failure that people grow. |
| ～というより | Rather than; more accurately described as | 彼は静かというより、少し緊張しているようです。 He seems a little nervous rather than simply quiet. |
Comments posted (0)