反而 vs 相反 (instead vs on the contrary)
When results flip your expectation
- Both touch "the opposite" — but work differently.
- on the contrary反而 = "instead / on the contrary" (an adverb, before the verb).
- opposite相反 = "the opposite / conversely" (often opens a clause: opposite相反，…).
on the contrary反而 = instead (adverb)
- variant of 吃吃(completed / change)了medicine药，illness病on the contrary反而更重(completed / change)了 = "took the medicine, but instead got worse."
illness病instead反而more更serious重了。
- illness病on the contrary反而更重(completed / change)了 = "the illness got worse instead."
Practice
Instead, the illness got worse: 病 ____ 更重了。
反而 = instead / on the contrary: 病反而更重了.
opposite相反 = on the contrary (connector)
- opposite相反，I / me我to agree同意 = "on the contrary, I agree."
on the contrary相反，I我agree同意。
- opposite相反，I / me我to agree同意 = "on the contrary, I agree."
Explore
Which word completes the sentence?
反而 is an adverb inside the clause (the result flips); 相反 links two opposite statements.
Practice
Which is an adverb placed before the verb?
反而 = adverb (before the verb); 相反 = a clause-opening connector.
Practice
相反 often opens a clause (相反，…).
Yes — 相反，我同意 (on the contrary, I agree).
Recap
Key idea
- on the contrary反而 = instead / on the contrary (adverb, before the verb)
- opposite相反 = on the contrary (connector, opens a clause)
- illness病on the contrary反而更重(completed / change)了 vs opposite相反，I / me我to agree同意
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Comparing similar functions.