An obstacle does not always stop an event. You will describe that mismatch with rağmen and karşın, then swap them without inventing a difference in meaning.
The idea
Both mean “despite”: the result runs against an expectation. Rağmen works in speech and writing; karşın often sounds more formal or written, but this is a tendency, not a grammatical restriction. Both follow a dative phrase: yağmura rağmen / yağmura karşın. The paired match and tea examples keep the facts unchanged. Buna rağmen and buna karşın can refer back to a whole preceding situation; here both mean “despite this”. See the linked forms lessons for the dative and verbal nouns.
Examples
- Yağmura rağmen maç devam etti.The match continued despite the rain.
- Gürültüye karşın bebek uyudu.The baby slept despite the noise.
- Uyarılara rağmen kapı açık kaldı.The door stayed open despite the warnings.
- Yağmura karşın maç devam etti.The match continued despite the rain.
- Fiyatı artmasına rağmen bu çay hâlâ ucuz.Although its price has risen, this tea is still cheap.
- Fiyatı artmasına karşın bu çay hâlâ ucuz.Although its price has risen, this tea is still cheap.
- Yağmur başladı. Buna rağmen maç devam etti.It started raining. Despite this, the match continued.
- Yağmur başladı. Buna karşın maç devam etti.It started raining. Despite this, the match continued.
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Watch out
Do not treat either word as a conjunction that can follow a bare finite verb: fiyatı arttı rağmen does not work. Use fiyatı artmasına rağmen, or the same phrase with karşın. Choosing the more formal word does not repair the missing structure.
Try it yourself
Choose either listed word: the baby slept despite the noise.
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rağmen / karşın
rağmen / karşın: the noise might have kept the baby awake, yet the baby slept. Both words fit; the sentence alone does not force a register choice.
Replace rağmen with its equivalent karşın, keeping the meaning. Write only the replacement.
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karşın
karşın: the task asks for an equivalent replacement. The rain and the continuation of the match remain the same facts; only the tone may become more written.
Choose the form before rağmen: this tea is still cheap although its price has risen.
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artmasına
artmasına: the price rise is packaged as a verbal noun phrase before the postposition. Arttı would be the predicate of an independent sentence, so it cannot fill this slot.
Choose the form that refers back to the rain: despite this, the match continued.
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Buna
Buna: it points back to the rain starting and supplies the dative form needed here. The unchanged demonstrative bu cannot directly precede rağmen.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Choose either listed word: the baby slept despite the noise.
Replace rağmen with its equivalent karşın, keeping the meaning. Write only the replacement.
Choose the form before rağmen: this tea is still cheap although its price has risen.
Choose the form that refers back to the rain: despite this, the match continued.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write a short message with rağmen about something that happened despite an obstacle. Rewrite it with karşın for a brief report. Explain what changes in tone and what stays true.