Japanese にひきかえ: striking contrast

The idea

Attach にひきかえ directly to a noun, or to a plain clause nominalised with の: 去年にひきかえ; 順調だったのにひきかえ. The second part describes a contrasting fact.

Examples

• 社交的しゃこうてきな姉あねにひきかえ、私わたしは静しずかです。Unlike my outgoing older sister, I am quiet.
• 去年きょねんにひきかえ、今年ことしは雨あめが少すくなかったです。Unlike last year, this year has had little rain.
• にぎやかな都心としんにひきかえ、この村むらは静しずかです。Unlike the lively city centre, this village is quiet.
• 前半ぜんはんが順調じゅんちょうだったのにひきかえ、後半こうはんは大変たいへんでした。While the first half went smoothly, the second half was difficult.
• 海うみが好すきな兄あににひきかえ、私わたしは山やまの方ほうが好すきです。Unlike my brother, who likes the sea, I prefer the mountains.
• 寒さむかった午前ごぜんにひきかえ、午後ごごは暖あたたかかったです。Unlike the morning, when it was cold, the afternoon was warm.

Watch out

The contrast is often marked or evaluative; a mere difference in degree may be better expressed with より. Do not confuse のにひきかえ with the concessive のに meaning “although”.

Try it yourself

1. 去年きょねん＿＿、今年ことしは雨あめが少すくないです。

   Show answer or example answer

   にひきかえ

   にひきかえ — Attach it directly to the noun 去年 to contrast this year.

2. 前半ぜんはんが順調じゅんちょうだった＿＿にひきかえ、後半こうはんは大変たいへんでした。

   Show answer or example answer

   の

   の — Nominalise the plain clause 順調だった before にひきかえ.

3. 海うみが好すきな兄あににひきかえ、私わたしは山やまの方ほうが＿＿です。

   Show answer or example answer

   好き

   好き — The second half contrasts the speaker’s preference for mountains with the brother’s love of the sea.

Use it today

Compare two periods or people using にひきかえ, then make a sentence with a clause followed by の.