“〜kaette・〜mushiro”: On the Contrary / Rather (against expectation / preference) [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「急いだのにかえって遅れた」「都会よりむしろ田舎」 — a backfired result vs a considered preference.

「薬を飲んだら、かえって悪くなった」 — expecting it to help, it got worse instead

「早く治そうと薬を飲んだのに、かえって具合が悪くなった」 (I took medicine to get better sooner, yet I felt worse instead) — 「かえって」 means “on the contrary, instead”: the result is opposite to expectation, unexpected. 「むしろ」 means “rather, if anything, better to”: a choice/leaning after comparing two things. Both might touch “instead/rather” in translation, yet differ in use. This guide sorts out 「かえって (on the contrary)」 and 「むしろ (rather)」 (N2).

Core: かえって = on the contrary (unexpected)／むしろ = rather (a comparative choice)

Both are adverbs, but in different directions:

• かえって = on the contrary, instead (the result is ‘opposite' to expectation, unexpected): 手伝ったら、かえって邪魔になった (I tried to help, but got in the way instead).
• むしろ = rather, if anything, better to (after comparing two options, leaning toward the latter): 謝るくらいなら、むしろ最初からやらないほうがいい (if you're going to apologize, better not to do it at all).

Feel: “on the contrary …／rather …” — 「かえって」 is “(I thought A, but) instead B,” an unexpected reversal (stressing the result defies expectation); 「むしろ」 is “(compared to A,) rather B／better B,” a comparative choice (leaning toward the latter of two). Common in formal and written contexts too.

Uses & distinction

See it in context

• 謝ったら、かえって相手を怒らせてしまった。(I apologized, but made them angrier instead.) — on the contrary
• 大きすぎる部屋は、かえって落ち着かない。(A room that's too big is, on the contrary, unsettling.) — on the contrary
• 都会より、むしろ田舎で暮らしたい。(Rather than the city, I'd rather live in the countryside.) — rather
• 彼は無口というより、むしろシャイなのだ。(Rather than taciturn, he's if anything shy.) — rather it's
• 下手に隠すと、かえって怪しまれる。(Hiding it clumsily only makes you more suspect instead.) — on the contrary

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「かえって」 is ‘an unexpected opposite result,' 「むしろ」 is ‘a choice after comparison.' The most confused. かえって = on the contrary (thought A, but got the opposite B instead, stressing ‘the result defies expectation, is opposite') (急いだら、かえって遅くなった = I hurried, but got slower instead — opposite to “wanting speed”); むしろ = rather, better to (between options A and B, leaning to B after comparing, stressing ‘choice, leaning') (都会より、むしろ田舎がいい = rather than the city, the countryside is better — choosing the countryside after comparing). Test: for “the result is unexpectedly opposite” use かえって; for “(compared to …) rather, better to” use むしろ.

② 「むしろ」 often pairs with 「〜より（は）」 for a comparative choice. 「むしろ」 very often goes with 「〜より（は）むしろ〜 (rather than ～)」, leaning to the latter of two: 高い店より、むしろ安くて美味しい店がいい (rather than an expensive place, a cheap tasty one is better); 叱るより、むしろ褒めて伸ばす (rather than scolding, praise to encourage). Also common: 「AというよりむしろB = rather than saying A, it's B」 (無口というよりむしろ内気). See a choice after 「〜より」, often with むしろ.

③ 「かえって」 is followed by ‘a result opposite to expectation,' not a plain comparison. 「かえって」 stresses “(having done A,) instead it became B (worse than expected),” followed by an unexpected, opposite result (親切→迷惑, 急ぐ→遅い). It's not for a plain “comparison of two” (that's むしろ). For “on the contrary (causing an opposite result)” use かえって; for “(after comparing) rather” use むしろ. Don't put 「かえって」 in a plain-choice slot.

🔄 Compare: かえって／むしろ／逆に／どちらかといえば

💡 Learning tip

「かえって」 and 「むしろ」 both might touch “instead/rather” in translation, but differ: ① かえって = on the contrary, instead (the result is ‘opposite' to expectation, unexpected) (急いだらかえって遅くなった = hurrying made it slower instead); ② むしろ = rather, better to (leaning to the latter after comparing two) (都会よりむしろ田舎がいい = rather than the city, the countryside is better). Three points: ① かえって stresses ‘an unexpected opposite result,' むしろ stresses ‘a choice/leaning after comparison'; ② むしろ often pairs with 「〜より（は）」 for comparison (AよりむしろB); ③ 「逆に」 ≈ かえって (more colloquial), 「どちらかといえば」 ≈ むしろ. Grasp “かえって = on the contrary (opposite result), むしろ = rather (a comparative choice)” and this pair won't be confused.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: 「かえって」 and 「むしろ」 both translate as ‘instead/rather' — how do I tell them apart?

Whether it's ‘an unexpected opposite result' or ‘a leaning after comparison.' 「かえって」 = on the contrary, instead (having done A, an unexpected ‘opposite' B occurs, stressing ‘didn't expect this, opposite to expectation'): 体にいいと思って毎日走ったら、かえって膝を痛めた (I ran daily thinking it was healthy, but hurt my knee instead — opposite to “healthy”); 慰めるつもりが、かえって泣かせてしまった (I meant to console, but made them cry instead). Its point is “(I thought it'd …,) but instead the opposite,” with surprise, reversal. 「むしろ」 = rather, better to, rather than … (between options A and B, leaning to/choosing B after comparing, stressing ‘choice, leaning'): 中途半端にやるくらいなら、むしろやらないほうがいい (if you'll do it halfway, better not to do it at all — leaning to “not doing” after comparing); 彼は天才というより、むしろ努力家だ (rather than a genius, he's if anything a hard worker — leaning to the latter of two phrasings). Its point is “(compared to A,) rather B／better B,” a choice or leaning after comparison. Test: for “(having done something) instead the opposite” → かえって (opposite result, surprise); for “(compared to …) rather, better to” → むしろ (a comparative choice). E.g., 「薬を飲んだらかえって悪くなった」 (took medicine, but got worse instead — opposite result); 「薬よりむしろ休養が必要だ」 (rather than medicine, rest is needed — a choice). One is “an opposite result,” one “a comparative choice.”

Q: Are 「かえって」 and 「逆に」 the same?

Very close (both “on the contrary, conversely”), interchangeable in most cases, differing in register. 「かえって」 = on the contrary, instead (more written, formal, stressing ‘the result is opposite to expectation, unexpected'): 良かれと思ってしたことが、かえって裏目に出た (what I did meaning well backfired instead — written, dignified). It leans formal, written. 「逆に」 = conversely, the other way (more colloquial, everyday, also ‘opposite to expectation/the prior'): 逆に、それがよかったんだよ (conversely, that turned out good — colloquial); 心配してたけど、逆にうまくいった (I was worried, but it went well instead). It's more colloquial, casual. In the “on the contrary (opposite result)” sense they're nearly interchangeable (かえって悪くなった = 逆に悪くなった), just かえって is more written/formal, 逆に more colloquial. Also, 「逆に」 has a “(from the other angle) conversely speaking” use (逆に言えば = conversely put), which かえって lacks. Test: formal writing use かえって, daily speech use 逆に, interchangeable for “instead”; for “conversely speaking” use 逆に. (Both differ from 「むしろ (a choice)」 — かえって/逆に are opposite results, むしろ is a comparative choice.)

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「急いだのに、___遅くなってしまった。」(hurried, yet ended up even slower)

(A) かえって　(B) むしろ　(C) せっかく　(D) わざと

Q2. 「便利な都会より、___静かな田舎がいい。」(would rather choose the quiet countryside)

(A) むしろ　(B) かえって　(C) どうせ　(D) せいぜい

Q3. What does 「薬を飲んだらかえって悪くなった」 mean?

(A) Taking the medicine made it worse instead (contrary to expectation)

(B) Got better after taking the medicine

(C) Didn't take the medicine

(D) The medicine had no effect but it didn't worsen

Q4. What is the difference between 「かえって」 and 「むしろ」?

(A) かえって = the result is contrary to expectation; むしろ = after comparing, choosing the unexpected side

(B) They are exactly the same

(C) かえって = comparative choice

(D) むしろ = contrary result

Q5. Which usage is natural?

(A) 謝るより、むしろ行動で示せ。　(B) かえって田舎がいい (a simple comparative choice)。

(C) むしろ具合が悪くなった (a contrary result)。　(D) かえってより静かだ。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) かえって ── Hurried yet ended up slower (contrary result).

2. (A) むしろ ── Would rather choose the countryside (comparative choice).

3. (A) ── Taking the medicine made it worse instead.

4. (A) ── かえって contrary result; むしろ comparative choice.

5. (A) ── 「むしろ行動で示せ」 (comparative choice) is correct.