「〜と（は）反対（は）」- Expressing Opposition
Explanation
In Japanese, the grammatical structure 〜と（は）反対（は） is used to express "the opposite of..." or "contrary to...". This structure is primarily used to highlight the opposition or contrast between two things.
Grammar Pattern
| Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 〜と（は）反対（は） | Plain form of verbs, dictionary form of い-adjectives, dictionary form of な-adjectives + な | Used to express a situation that is opposite to the preceding clause, emphasizing the contrast between two things. |
Basic Usage
〜と（は）反対（は） is used to compare two opposing things, expressing a situation that is contrary to the preceding clause. For example:
今年 の夏休 みは旅行 に行 く予定 ですが、友達 とは反対です。- Kotoshi no natsu yasumi wa ryokou ni iku yotei desu ga, tomodachi to wa hantai desu.
- I plan to go on a trip this summer, but my friend is doing the opposite.
Deep Dive
Basic Usage
This grammar is mainly used to describe two opposing situations, often for comparison. Here are some simple examples:
彼 は几帳面 ですが、弟 とは反対です。- Kare wa kichoumen desu ga, otouto to wa hantai desu.
- He is very meticulous, but his younger brother is the opposite.
彼女 は早起 きですが、私 とは反対です。- Kanojo wa hayaoki desu ga, watashi to wa hantai desu.
- She is an early riser, but I am the opposite.
Advanced Usage
As you deepen your understanding of this grammar, you’ll find it can also be used in more complex sentence structures, such as describing the duality of something or contrasting expectations with reality.
天気 が良 いと期待 していましたが、現実 とは反対に雨 が降 りました。- Tenki ga yoi to kitai shiteimashita ga, genjitsu to wa hantai ni ame ga furimashita.
- I was expecting good weather, but contrary to expectations, it rained.
彼 は親切 ですが、彼 の兄弟 とは反対です。- Kare wa shinsetsu desu ga, kare no kyoudai to wa hantai desu.
- He is kind, but his siblings are the opposite.
Examples
To better understand this grammar, here are more practical examples:
新 しいプロジェクト は成功 したが、以前 のプロジェクト とは反対です。- Atarashii purojekuto wa seikou shita ga, izen no purojekuto to wa hantai desu.
- The new project was successful, but it was the opposite of the previous project.
彼 は内向的 ですが、彼 の友人 とは反対です。- Kare wa naikouteki desu ga, kare no yuujin to wa hantai desu.
- He is introverted, but his friends are the opposite.
その 映画 は予想 とは反対に面白 くなかった。- Sono eiga wa yosou to wa hantai ni omoshirokunakatta.
- Contrary to expectations, that movie wasn’t interesting.
Summary
〜と（は）反対（は） is an important grammatical structure in Japanese used to express opposition or contrast. By mastering this grammar, learners can more accurately describe the relationship between two opposing things, thereby improving the precision and vividness of their Japanese expressions. Understanding its cultural and historical background can also help deepen your comprehension of when and how to use this grammar effectively.