“〜hanmen”: But on the Flip Side 〜 (two sides of the same thing) [JLPT N2]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「やりがいがある反面、体力的にきつい」 — the flip side of the very same thing.
「便利な反面、失うものもある」 — the other face of the same thing
「スマホは便利な反面、人と人の対話を減らしている」 (the other side of smartphones' convenience is that they reduce person-to-person conversation) — 「〜反面（はんめん）」 expresses “the other side of ～ (is that) ～; while ～, conversely ～”: pointing out the opposing two sides, contrasting qualities a single thing has at once. This guide covers 「反面」's use and attachment, separating it from 「一方（で）」 (N2).
Core: the two opposing sides of one thing (on one side ～, on the other ～)
「(verb／i-adj／na-adj／noun) ＋ 反面」 = “the other side of ～ (is) ～; while ～, conversely ～” — pointing out two opposite-direction qualities a single subject has at once:
- この仕事は給料がいい反面、責任も重い (this job pays well, but on the other side the responsibility is heavy too).
- 彼は優しい反面、優柔不断なところがある (he's kind, but on the other side has an indecisive streak).
Feel: “on one side …, on the other (conversely) …” — the core is “one subject's ‘two-sidedness': one quality in the first clause, an opposite quality in the second,” the two forming a contrast (often one good, one bad). It's a written, formal expression.
Attachment
| Word class | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb | plain form ＋ 反面 | 需要が増える反面 |
| i-adjective | plain form ＋ 反面 | 楽しい反面 |
| na-adjective | 〜な／である ＋ 反面 | 便利な反面 |
| noun | 〜である ＋ 反面 | 長所である反面 |
Examples in context
- 都会は便利な反面、生活費が高い。(The city is convenient, but on the other side the cost of living is high.)
- この薬はよく効く反面、副作用も強い。(This medicine is effective, but conversely has strong side effects.)
- 一人暮らしは自由な反面、寂しさもある。(Living alone is free, but on the other side has loneliness too.)
- 彼は仕事ができる反面、部下に厳しすぎる。(He's capable at work, but on the other side too hard on subordinates.)
- 円安は輸出に有利な反面、輸入品が高くなる。(A weak yen favors exports, but conversely makes imports expensive.)
⚠️ Easy traps to avoid
① 「反面」 states ‘one subject's two-sidedness'; the two clauses must be opposite qualities. 「反面」 points out two opposite-direction facets a single thing has at once (one good, one bad), so the two clauses must be the same subject, and opposing: 便利な反面、高い (the same “city,” convenient vs expensive, opposing, ○). If the two aren't the same subject, or aren't opposing (just two unrelated facts side by side), 「反面」 sounds odd. It's specifically “this thing has a good side, and also an opposite (bad) side.”
② 「反面」 vs 「一方（で）」 — 反面 stresses ‘opposing two-sidedness' more. Both can mean “on the other hand,” but 「反面」 stresses the same subject's ‘opposite, contrasting' two sides (often one good, one bad) (給料がいい反面、忙しい); 「一方（で）」 is broader, marking a contrast or ‘a parallel other side' (not necessarily opposing) (彼は医者である一方（で）、作家でもある = he's a doctor, and on the other hand also a writer — parallel, not opposing). To stress “opposing good/bad two sides” use 反面; for a plain “on the other hand (parallel/contrast)” use 一方で.
③ Attachment: mind na-adjectives・nouns. na-adjective ＋ な (便利な反面) or である (便利である反面); noun ＋ である (長所である反面); verbs・i-adjectives use the plain form (増える反面, 高い反面). Don't attach a na-adjective directly (×便利反面).
🔄 Compare: 反面／一方（で）／半面／につけ
| Form | Feel | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜反面 | the other side of ～ (is) ～ (one subject's opposing two sides) | 便利な反面高い |
| 〜一方（で） | on the other hand (contrast or parallel, not necessarily opposing) | 医者である一方、作家だ |
| 〜半面 | ＝反面 (synonym, spelling variant) | 楽しい半面 |
| 〜につけ〜につけ | whenever／whether… (a different pattern) | いいにつけ悪いにつけ |
💡 Quick takeaway
「〜反面（はんめん）」 = the other side of ～ (is) ～, its core pointing out “two opposite-direction qualities a single thing has at once” (便利な反面、環境に悪い; 優しい反面、優柔不断). Three points: ① the two clauses must be ‘the same subject, opposing' two sides (a good/bad contrast), not two unrelated facts side by side; ② division of labor with 「一方（で）」 — 反面 stresses “opposing two sides,” 一方で is broader (can be parallel, not necessarily opposing); ③ attachment — na-adjective ＋ な/である, noun ＋ である, verb/i-adjective plain form. A written expression; to point out “benefits and drawbacks, merits and flaws” two-sidedness in formal writing, 反面 is the most fitting.
❓ Common questions
Q: 「反面」 and 「一方（で）」 both render as ‘on the other hand' — how do I tell them apart?
「反面」 stresses the same subject's ‘opposing' two sides, 「一方（で）」 is broader (can be opposing or parallel). 「〜反面」 = the other side of ～ (is) ～ (pointing out one thing's ‘opposite, contrasting' two qualities, usually one good one bad, a strong contrast): この仕事は収入が高い反面、休みが少ない (this job has high income, but conversely few holidays — the same “job's” good (high income) and bad (few holidays), opposing). It's always one subject's ‘two opposing sides.' 「〜一方（で）」 = on the other hand (can mark a contrast, but also often ‘a parallel other side,' the two not necessarily opposing): 都市の人口が増える一方（で）、地方では減っている (city populations grow, on the other hand rural ones shrink — contrast); 彼は会社員である一方（で）、週末は農業もしている (he's an office worker, on the other hand also farms on weekends — parallel, not opposing). It can be “opposing” or just “another parallel matter.” Test: stress “the same thing has good and bad (opposing) sides” → 反面; just “on the other hand (parallel or contrast)” → 一方で. So 反面's opposition, two-sidedness is more explicit; 一方で is more neutral and broader.
Q: What form goes before 「反面」? How do na-adjectives and nouns attach?
「反面」 takes the plain form, but na-adjectives and nouns need care:
① Verbs, i-adjectives → attach the plain form directly: 需要が増える反面 (the other side of demand increasing); 給料が高い反面 (the other side of high pay); 便利になった反面 (the other side of becoming convenient).
② na-adjectives → ＋ な or ＋ である: 便利な反面 (○) ／ 便利である反面 (○, more written) = the other side of being convenient; 静かな反面／静かである反面. Not directly 「便利反面」 (×).
③ Nouns → ＋ である: 長所である反面 (the other side of being a merit); メリットである反面. Nouns add 「である」, not directly 「長所反面」 (×).
Memory aid: verbs・i-adjectives attach directly, na-adjectives add 「な」 (or である), nouns add 「である」. This resembles the attachment of plain-form patterns like 「〜わけだ」「〜はずだ」 — na-adjectives and nouns need 「な／である」 to connect. When writing, な is more colloquial-natural for na-adjectives, である more written-formal; nouns always use である. Master this and 「反面」's attachment won't trip you.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「この仕事はやりがいがある___、体力的にきつい。」(the positive and negative sides of the same job)
(A) 一方で (B) 反面 (C) ものの (D) にもかかわらず
Q2. 「彼は頭がいい___、プライドが高すぎる欠点がある。」(the merits and demerits of the same person)
(A) 反面 (B) 一方で (C) ものの (D) のに
Q3. Which use of 反面 is most correct?
(A) 日本では出生率が下がる反面、外国人が増えている。(different subjects)
(B) この部屋は広い反面、家賃が高い。(the positive and negative of the same subject)
(C) 頑張った反面、失敗した。(adversative, not two sides)
(D) 春になる反面、花粉症の季節だ。
Q4. 「インターネットは情報を得やすい___、偽情報も広まりやすい。」(two sides of one coin)
(A) 反面 (B) ために (C) によって (D) ばかりに
Q5. 「授業は厳しい___、実力がつく面もある。」(the flip side of strictness is that you truly gain ability)
(A) 反面 (B) ものの (C) のに (D) くせに
Answer Explanations
1. (B) 反面 ── 「この仕事 (same subject) はやりがいがある (positive) 反面、体力的にきつい (negative)」= the positive and negative sides of the same thing → 反面.
2. (A) 反面 ── 「彼 (same subject) は頭がいい (merit) 反面、プライドが高すぎる (demerit)」= the merits and demerits of the same person → 反面.
3. (B) ── 「広い (merit) 反面、家賃が高い (demerit)」= the positive and negative of the same subject (この部屋) → the typical use of 反面. (A) different subjects (birthrate↓ vs foreigners↑), should use 一方で; (C) 頑張ったのに失敗した = adversative/regret, not two sides.
4. (A) 反面 ── 「情報を得やすい反面、偽情報も広まりやすい (easy to get information, but on the flip side misinformation spreads easily too)」= a two-sides-of-one-coin contrast. (B) ために / (C) によって / (D) ばかりに are all causal.
5. (A) 反面 ── 「授業は厳しい (a negative feel) 反面、実力がつく (positive)」= two sides of the same class (strict vs. genuinely learning) → 反面.