Chinese Grammar learning: 反而 vs 却

Learning how to properly use 反而 (fǎn'ér) and 却 (què) may seem like a head ache, but it isn't! This article will help you out!

They are placed in different parts of the sentence

反而 can be placed before or after the subject. 却 can only be placed after the subject.

Structure for 反而
Subject + 反而

反而 + Subject

Examples

Nǐ zhème zuò, xiàoɡuǒ fǎnér bú hǎo.
你 这么 做，效果 反而 不 好。

However you did it, the quality was no good.

Nǐ zhème zuò, fǎnérxiàoɡuǒ bú hǎo.
你 这么 做，反而效果 不 好。

However you did it, the quality was no good.

Structure for 却
Subject + 却

Examples

Wàimiàn xiàyǔ, tā què méi dài sǎn.
外面 下雨，他 却 没 带 伞。

It's raining outside, and I didn't bring an umbrella.

Both have different coverage

反而 can point to any part of the sentence to make a turning point, and it often emphasizes the structure around 是. On the other hand, 却 can only make a turning point for the the whole sentence, in other words, it can only make a turning point for the predicate part of the sentence.

反而 can change any part of the sentence
反而 + one part of a sentence

Examples

Chicago Bulls méi yínɡ zuìhòu yī chǎnɡ bǐsài, fǎnér shì Knicks.
Chicago Bulls 没 赢 最后 一 场 比赛，反而 是 Knicks.

The Chicago Bulls didn't win their last game, but the Knicks did.

Tāmen dōu juédé Knicks huì shū diào zuìhòu yī chǎnɡ bǐsài, jiéɡuǒ tā fǎnér yínɡ le.
他们 都 觉得 Knicks 会 输 掉 最后 一 场 比赛，结果 他 反而 赢 了。

They all thought the Knicks were going to lose the last game, but they won.

Wǒ yǐwéi Knicks huì yínɡ dì yī chǎnɡ bǐsài, jiéɡuǒ fǎnér shì zuìhòu yī chǎnɡ.
我 以为 Knicks 会 赢 第 一 场 比赛，结果 反而 是 最后 一 场。

I thought the Knicks would win the first game, but they won the last one.

却 only changes the whole sentence
却 + Verb

Examples

Chicago Bulls méi yínɡ zuìhòu yī chǎnɡ bǐsài, Knicks què yínɡ le.
Chicago Bulls 没 赢 最后 一 场 比赛，Knicks 却 赢 了。

The Chicago Bulls didn't win their last game, but the Knicks did.

Tāmen dōu juédé Knicks huì shū diào zuìhòu yī chǎnɡ bǐsài, tā què yínɡ le.
他们 都 觉得 Knicks 会 输 掉 最后 一 场 比赛，他 却 赢 了。

They all thought the Knicks would lose the last game, but they won.

wǒ yǐwéi Knicks huì yínɡ dì yī chǎnɡ bǐsài, tā què shū le.
我 以为 Knicks 会 赢 第 一 场 比赛，他 却 输 了。

I though the Knicks would win the first game, but they lost.