反而 vs 却 (instead vs however)
Two kinds of plot twist
- Both mark contrast — but with different force.
- on the contrary反而 = on the contrary / instead (the result reverses your expectation).
- but却 = however / yet (a plain contrast, before the verb).
on the contrary反而 = instead (a reversal)
- 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 got worse instead."
illness病instead反而more更serious重了。
- illness病on the contrary反而更重(completed / change)了 = "got worse instead."
Practice
Took the medicine, but got worse instead: 病 ____ 更重了。
反而 = on the contrary / instead: 病反而更重了.
but却 = however (a plain contrast)
- he / him他very很rope累，but却very很to feel happy开心 = "he's tired, yet very happy."
he他tired累，yet却very很happy开心。
- but却very很to feel happy开心 = "yet very happy."
Explore
Which word completes the sentence?
After 不但没/不但不, the reversal slot belongs to 反而; a plain contrast between clauses takes 却.
Practice
Which marks a strong reversal of expectation (“instead”)?
反而 = a reversal; 却 = a plain contrast.
Practice
Both 反而 and 却 sit before the verb.
Yes — both are pre-verb adverbs of contrast.
Recap
Key idea
- on the contrary反而 = on the contrary / instead (a strong reversal of expectation)
- but却 = however / yet (a plain contrast)
- on the contrary反而 flips the result; but却 just turns the other way
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Comparing similar adverbs.