“〜ni hanshite・ni hansuru”: Contrary To / Against 〜 (a written contrast against expectation) [JLPT N2]

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

「予想に反して大雪になった」 — the outcome turned out the very opposite of what was expected.

「予想に反して、試合は大敗だった」 — the result the exact opposite of expected

After a match, 「大方の予想に反して、試合は大敗に終わった」 (contrary to most people's expectations, the match ended in a rout) — 「〜に反して・〜に反する」 = contrary to ～, against ～, meaning “the result is contrary to expectation/prediction,” or “goes against some standard/wish.” It's an N2 written adversative for “the unexpected opposite.” This guide covers its use (preceding expectation/prediction words), the attributive 「に反する,」 and how to tell it from 「に対して.」

Core: contrary to expectation/prediction, or against a standard

「noun ＋ に反して」 has two related senses:

• ① contrary to ～ (expectation, prediction) (the unexpected): preceding 期待・予想・予測 etc., a result contrary to expectation: 予想に反して、彼は落選した (contrary to expectation, he was voted out), 期待に反して、成績は伸びなかった (against expectations, grades didn't improve).
• ② against ～ (wish, standard, rule): preceding 意・規則・命令 etc., going against a standard: 意に反して、転勤させられた (against my will, I was transferred), 規則に反する行為 (an act against the rules).

Feel: “contrary to ～, against ～, unexpectedly ～” — the core is “a result contrary to (expectation/prediction)” or “against (a wish/standard).” What precedes is mostly a 期待・予想・予測・意・規則 noun. To modify a noun, use the attributive 「に反する.」 It's a written, formal adversative expression.

Attachment rules

See it in context

• 大方の予想に反して、新人が優勝した。(Contrary to most expectations, the newcomer won.)
• 期待に反して、映画はつまらなかった。(Against expectations, the movie was boring.)
• 彼は自分の意志に反して、その仕事を引き受けた。(Against his own will, he took on that job.)
• 事前の予測に反し、株価は急落した。(Contrary to prior prediction, the stock plunged.)
• 規則に反する行為は、厳しく処罰される。(Acts against the rules are severely punished.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① What precedes is mostly an ‘expectation・prediction・wish・rule' noun. The first clause of 「に反して」 is mostly 期待・予想・予測・意 (wish)・命令・規則・ルール, because it means “contrary to (that expectation/prediction)” or “against (that wish/standard).” So what precedes is “an expectation, prediction, or a standard, wish,” and what follows is “a result contrary to it” or “an act against it”: 予想に反して (contrary to prediction), 期待に反して (against expectations), 意に反して (against one's will), 規則に反する (against the rules). Test: is the preceding an “expectation/prediction (kind)” or a “wish/standard (kind)”? Yes → に反して applies. It doesn't much take ordinary nouns without a “standard/expectation” sense.

② It expresses ‘the unexpected opposite' or ‘going against a standard,' with a written adversative flavor. 「に反して」's core is “(a result) contrary to ～” — either “contrary to expectation/prediction (result opposite)” or “against a wish/rule (act contrary).” It has a written, formal adversative color, mostly for news, reports, formal narration: 予想に反して、売上が落ちた (contrary to expectation, sales fell). For everyday “unexpectedly,” 「思ったのと違って」「意外にも」 etc. are more common. To say “contrary to ～, unexpectedly ～” in writing use に反して; for everyday use 「意外に」「予想と違って.」

③ 「に反して」 vs 「に対して」: contrary to/against vs as against/toward. These two both contain 「に ＋ verb して」 but mean different things. 「〜に反して」 = contrary to ～, against ～ (the unexpected or against a standard): stresses “the result is ‘contrary' to expectation/standard”: 予想に反して、失敗した (contrary to expectation, failed). 「〜に対して」 = as against ～, toward ～ (a neutral contrast or object): expresses contrast (two things opposed) or object (toward ～): 兄に対して、弟は真面目だ (as against the older brother, the younger is diligent — contrast), 質問に対して答える (answer toward the question — object). Difference: 「に反して」 is “contrary to (expectation), against” (with an “unexpected/against” sense); 「に対して」 is “as against, toward” (neutral contrast or object). Test: to say “contrary to ～, unexpectedly ～, against ～” → に反して; to say “as against ～, toward ～” → に対して. Don't mix them over both having 「に〜して.」

🔄 Compare: に反して／に対して／とは違って／にもかかわらず

💡 Learning tip

「〜に反して・に反する」 = contrary to ～, against ～, a written adversative for “the unexpected opposite” — three points: ① precedes an ‘expectation・prediction・wish・rule' noun — 予想に反して (contrary to expectation), 意に反して (against one's will), 規則に反する (against the rules); ② expresses ‘the unexpected opposite' or ‘going against a standard,' with a written adversative flavor; for everyday use 「意外に」「予想と違って」; ③ separate it from 「に対して」 — に反して is “contrary to/against” (with an against sense), に対して is “as against/toward” (neutral contrast or object). To modify a noun use the attributive 「に反する」 (規則に反する行為). This pattern suits the narration “contrary to expectation, the result was…” in news and reports — 予想に反して、〜, instantly bringing the tension of “things going contrary to what was hoped.”

❓ FAQ

Q: 「に反して」 and 「に対して」 both have 「に ＋ して」 — do they mean the same?

No — one expresses “contrary to/against,” one “as against/toward.” 「〜に反して」 = contrary to ～, against ～ (the unexpected, or against a standard): stresses “the result is ‘contrary to' or ‘against' (expectation/prediction/standard),” preceding 期待・予想・意・規則: 予想に反して、彼は落選した (contrary to expectation, he was voted out — result contrary to prediction), 意に反して、辞めさせられた (against my will, I was forced to resign — against a wish), 規則に反する (against the rules). It carries an “unexpected/against” sense, a written adversative. 「〜に対して」 = as against ～, toward ～ (a neutral contrast or object): expresses contrast (two things opposed) or object (what an action is directed at), without “against,” neutral: 兄は文系なのに対して、弟は理系だ (the older brother is humanities, whereas the younger is sciences — contrast), 質問に対して丁寧に答える (answer the question carefully — object), 一人に対して千円 (1000 yen per person — correspondence). It's “as against, toward, per,” neutral. Test: to say “contrary to ～, unexpectedly ～, against ～” (with an against sense) → に反して; to say “as against ～, toward ～, per ～” (neutral contrast/object) → に対して. E.g. 「予想に反して (contrary to expectation — opposite)」 uses に反して; 「それに対して、私はこう思う (as against that, I think this — contrast/response)」 uses に対して. The difference is “contrary/against” (に反して) vs “as against/toward” (に対して).

Q: How do I use 「に反して」 and 「に反する」? What's the difference?

The difference is what follows: for a verb clause (adverbial) use 「に反して,」 for a noun (attributive) use 「に反する／に反した.」 「〜に反して」 is adverbial, modifying the following verb/clause, meaning “contrary to ～”: 予想に反して、失敗した (contrary to expectation, failed — modifies 「失敗した」), 期待に反して、成績が落ちた (against expectations, grades fell). What follows is a clause/verb. 「〜に反する／に反した」 is attributive, modifying the following noun, meaning “a ～ against ～”: 規則に反する行為 (an act against the rules — modifies the noun 「行為」), 道徳に反する内容 (content against morals), 予想に反した結果 (a result contrary to expectation). What follows is a noun. The test is dead simple: see whether a verb or a noun follows 「に反して／に反する」 — a verb/clause (失敗した, 落ちた) → に反して; a noun (行為, 結果, 内容) → に反する／に反した. This is just Japanese's general rule of “連用 (て) modifies verbs, 連体 (る/た) modifies nouns.” E.g. 「規則に反して行動する (act against the rules — modifies the verb)」 uses に反して; 「規則に反する行動 (an action against the rules — modifies the noun)」 uses に反する. Remember “modify a verb → に反して, modify a noun → に反する” and you won't slip.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「皆の期待___、彼女は大会で負けてしまった。」(Contrary to everyone's expectations, she lost)

(A) にもかかわらず　(B) に反して　(C) のに　(D) に対して

Q2. 「医師の忠告___、彼は食事制限を守らなかった。」(Contrary to the doctor's advice, he didn't follow the diet)

(A) に反して　(B) にもかかわらず　(C) のに　(D) にしたがって

Q3. Which sentence uses に反して correctly?

(A) 雨が降っているに反して、試合が行われた。

(B) 天気予報に反して、一日中晴れだった。

(C) 努力したに反して、合格できた。

(D) 彼が来るに反して、会議が始まった。

Q4. 「法律___行動は、社会に許されない。」(An action contrary to the law isn't tolerated by society; modifying form)

(A) に反した　(B) に反して　(C) にもかかわらず　(D) に対して

Q5. 「予想___大雪になった。皆が驚いた。」(Contrary to the forecast, it snowed heavily)

(A) のに　(B) に反して　(C) にもかかわらず　(D) ものの

Answer Explanations

1. (B) に反して ── 「皆の期待に反して (contrary to everyone's expectations)」= the first clause is "expectations" → に反して (written adversative going against expectation).

2. (A) に反して ── 「医師の忠告に反して (contrary to the doctor's advice)」= the first clause is "professional advice" → に反して. にもかかわらず means "despite," a different nuance.

3. (B) ── 「天気予報に反して、一日中晴れだった」= the first clause is "weather forecast (a prediction)" → に反して is perfectly correct. (A) 雨が降っている = an actual fact, not an "expectation"; (C) 努力した = effort isn't a "prediction"; (D) 彼が来る = not a rule/prediction form.

4. (A) に反した ── to modify a noun (行動), use the attributive form: に反した + noun. に反して = adverbial use; に反した = attributive (modifying a noun).

5. (B) に反して ── 「予想に反して (contrary to the forecast) 大雪になった」= the first clause is "a prediction" → に反して is most natural.