Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 10: 6/33

に引(ひ)き換(か)えIn stark contrast, In comparison, On the other hand, While, In sharp contrast

Structure

Noun＋にひきかえ
［な］Adjective＋な・である＋の＋にひきかえ
［い］Adjective＋の＋にひきかえ
Verb＋の＋にひきかえ
Phrase (A)。それにひきかえ、Noun は＋Phrase (B)

Details

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About にひきかえ

に引(ひ)き換(か)え is a grammar pattern that is used for making contrasts between things, and will be translated as ‘in comparison to (A), (B)’, or ‘in stark contrast to (A), (B)’. The literal translation is ‘pulling back and switching away from (A), (B)’. This ‘switching away from’ portion may be used as a reminder of the large size of the difference that this grammar pattern usually indicates.

に引(ひ)き換(か)え is a combination of the case-marking particle に, the conjunctive form of the う-Verb 引(ひ)く ‘to pull’, 引(ひ)き, and the conjunctive form of the る-Verb 換(か)える ‘to switch between’, or ‘to interchange’, 換(か)え.

に引(ひ)き換(か)え may follow almost any type of word, but will require a の to precede it before い-Adjectives or verbs, and なの to precede it before な-Adjectives.

(A) and (B) will always be two opposite ends of some kind of spectrum, where one is considered to be good, while the other is regarded as bad based on the subjective opinion of the speaker.

Additionally, それにひきかえ may be used to begin sentences where the comparison is being made to a previous statement.

Caution

Both (A) and (B) will be facts that are plainly observable or measurable. Due to this, に引(ひ)き換(か)え will not be used in sentences that make assumptions or guesses.

  • 今(いま)は寒(さむ)いのに引(ひ)き換(か)え、昼(ひる)になったら暖(あたた)かくなるかもしれない。
    In stark contrast to it being cold right now, it would probably get warmer at noon. (Unnatural Japanese)

Examples

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    母親(ははおや)の友達(ともだち)の息子(むすこ)さんは、弁護士(べんごし)として立派(りっぱ)に働(はたら)いているのにひきかえ、僕(ぼく)は・・・（まだフリーターだ）。

    In stark contrast to my mother's friend's son, who is working prominently as a lawyer, I am… (still a permanent part-timer)

    姉(あね)は積極的(せっきょくてき)で活発(かっぱつ)な性格(せいかく)にひきかえ、弟(おとうと)の健太郎(けんたろう)はとても無気力(むきりょく)だ。

    In stark contrast to the elder sister's lively personality, the younger brother, Kentaro, is very apathetic.

    兄(あに)は優秀(ゆうしゅう)な成績(せいせき)をおさめている。それにひきかえ妹(いもうと)の方(ほう)は遊(あそ)んでばかりだ。

    The elder brother has excellent grades. In stark contrast to that, the younger sister is just mucking around.

    前回(ぜんかい)のテストにひきかえ今回(こんかい)のテストは難(むずか)しい。

    In stark contrast to the previous test, this one is hard.

    隣(となり)の家(いえ)の猫(ねこ)は痩(や)せていて頭(あたま)がいいのにひきかえうちの猫(ねこ)はぐうたらしてばかりだなあ。

    In stark contrast to the neighbor's cat, which is skinny and smart, our cat is just loafing around.

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      にひきかえ – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

      • wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

        wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

        Is this phrase more commonly written in kana or as に引き換え? I get 2.6 million hits on に引き換え and only 500,000 for にひきかえ on Google, so I was surprised to see it here on Bunpro in kana only.

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