～かと思えば [I thought… but…]

Explanation

～かと思えば is a Japanese expression used to describe a situation where the speaker's expectation or prediction turns out to be the opposite of reality. It is often used to highlight the contrast between what the speaker anticipated and what actually happened.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Verb Dictionary Form + かと思えば	Verb Dictionary Form + かと思えば	Used to express a contrast between the speaker's expectation and reality, often conveying surprise, unexpectedness, or disappointment.
Verb た Form + かと思えば	Verb た Form + かと思えば	Used to express a contrast between the speaker's expectation and reality, often conveying surprise, unexpectedness, or disappointment.
Noun + かと思えば	Noun + かと思えば	Used to express a contrast between the speaker's expectation and reality, often conveying surprise, unexpectedness, or disappointment.

Examples

• 息子むすこは学校がっこうから帰かえってきたかと思えば、まず遊あそびに出でかけている。
• Musuko wa gakkou ka kaette kita ka to omoeba, mazu asobi ni dekaketeiru.
• I thought my son had come back from school, but he immediately went out to play.
  

• 雨あめが降ふったかと思えば、すぐにやんだ。
• Ame ga futta ka to omoeba, sugu ni yanda.
• I thought it was raining, but it stopped right away.
  

Deep Dive

～かと思えば is used to describe a situation where the outcome is contrary to the speaker's expectation, often involving sudden changes. It is commonly used to describe others' situations or environmental changes and usually carries a sense of surprise or unexpectedness. For example, when someone expects the weather to stay sunny but it suddenly starts raining, ～かと思えば can be used to express this unexpected change.

• 彼かれは遅おくれるかと思えば、予よ定ていより早はやく到とう着ちゃくした。
• Kare wa okureru ka to omoeba, yotei yori hayaku touchaku shita.
• I thought he would be late, but he arrived earlier than expected.
  

• 彼女かのじょは怒おこっているかと思えば、急きゅうに笑わらい出だした。
• Kanojo wa okotte iru ka to omoeba, kyuu ni warai dashita.
• I thought she was angry, but she suddenly started laughing.
  

Comparison and Differences

Both ～かと思えば and ～かと思ったら mean "I thought… but…," but the former emphasizes the contrast and unexpectedness between two situations, while the latter focuses more on the close timing of the two events.

Expression	Focus
～かと思えば	Contrast and unexpectedness
～かと思ったら	Close timing of events

Real-Life Scenarios

• A: 今日きょうは暖あたたかいね。
• B: Sou da ne. Demo, 暖あたたかいかと思えば、夜よるには寒さむくなるかもしれないよ。
• A: It's warm today, isn't it?
• B: Yeah, but I thought it was warm, but it might get cold at night.
  

• A: 新あたらしいレストランに行いったんだけど、どうだった？
• B: 美味おいしいかと思えば、値段ねだんが高たかすぎてびっくりしたよ。
• A: I went to the new restaurant. How was it?
• B: I thought it would be delicious, but I was shocked by how expensive it was.
  

Summary

～かと思えば is a grammar point used to describe situations where reality contradicts expectations, often conveying surprise or unexpectedness. By comparing it with similar expressions, you can better understand its usage and apply it naturally in conversations.

～かと思えば - Describing Rapid Changes

Explanation

"～かと思えば" can also be used to emphasize rapid changes in situations, indicating that one action is not yet completed when another has already occurred. The main meaning of this grammar point is "just as... then..." or "no sooner than...".

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Verb Dictionary Form + かと思えば	Verb Dictionary Form	Describes rapid changes, indicating that one action is not yet completed when another has already occurred.

Basic Usage and Examples

In basic usage, "～かと思えば" is used to describe rapid changes in actions or situations. Here are some basic examples:

• 彼かれは泣ないていたかと思えば、次つぎの瞬間しゅんかんには笑わらっていた。
• Kare wa naiteita ka to omoeba, tsugi no shunkan ni wa waratteita.
• He was just crying, and the next moment he was already laughing.
  

• 雨あめが降ふり始はじめたかと思えば、すぐに止やんだ。
• Ame ga furihajimeta ka to omoeba, sugu ni yanda.
• It had just started raining, and then it stopped immediately.
  

Deep Dive

As you progress in language learning, "～かと思えば" can also be used in more complex sentence structures to describe nuanced emotions and scenes.

Examples

• 掴つかった落おちた物ものをわざわざ交番こうばんまで届とどけに行くいく人ひとがいるかと思えば、人ひとの物ものを盗ぬすむ者ものもいる。
• Tsukatta ochita mono o wazawaza kouban made todoke ni iku hito ga iru ka to omoeba, hito no mono o nusumu mono mo iru.
• There are people who go out of their way to take lost items to the police station, while there are also those who steal others' belongings.
  

• 最近さいきん忙いそがしいかと思えば、急きゅうに暇ひまになったりする。
• Saikin isogashii ka to omoeba, kyuu ni hima ni nattari suru.
• Lately, I’ve been extremely busy, and then suddenly I find myself with free time.
  

Comparison and Differences

"～かと思えば" and "～かと思うと" are very similar in usage and meaning. The former is more commonly used in spoken language, while the latter is more formal and often seen in written language.

Expression	Usage
～かと思えば	Commonly used in spoken language to describe rapid changes
～かと思うと	More formal, often used in written language

Real-Life Scenarios

• AA: 最近さいきん天気てんきが変かわりやすいね。
• BB: そうだね。晴はれれているかと思えば、急きゅうに雨あめが降ふり出だしたりする。
• A: The weather has been so unpredictable lately, hasn’t it?
• B: Yeah. It’s sunny one moment, and then suddenly it starts raining.
  

• AA: 彼かれ、さっきまでここにいたよね？
• BB: うん。ここにいたかと思えば、もういないね。
• A: He was here just a moment ago, right?
• B: Yeah. He was here, and now he’s already gone.
  

Summary

"～かと思えば" not only expresses unexpectedness but also emphasizes rapid changes between actions, making it suitable for various scenarios. By understanding its usage and comparing it with similar grammar points, you can improve the accuracy and fluency of your Japanese expressions.