Structure
Phrase (A) + かえって + Phrase (B)
Details
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Formal
About 却って
In order to revoke, or take a step back from a statement that has already been made, 却って will often be used. 却って can translate as 'rather', or 'all the more'. If a sentence consists of '(A) 却って, (B)', what it means is 'putting aside (A), (B)'. 却って is an adverb.
却って itself translates most closely to 'instead'. However, this is not the 'instead' used for phrases like '(B) was chosen over (A)', but the 'instead' used for phrases like '(A) couldn't be achieved, so (B)'. This shows that (A) is usually the intention or aim of the speaker, but (B) was the result instead.
Fun Fact
Another reading of the kanji used in 却って is 却く, which means 'to retreat'. This further highlights 却って's nuance of 'stepping away' from the (A) statement, to show the real result of (B).
- 「宿題やれ！」って言われると、却ってやりたくなくなる。When someone tells me to do my homework, taking a step back from that, it makes me not want to do it even more.
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遅く走った方が安全だと思うかもしれないけど却って危ないから、高速道路ではスピードを落とさないで。You might think that it is safer to drive slower on a highway, but taking a step back from that, it is actually dangerous.
Synonyms
Examples
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欲張ると却って損をしますよ。
If you are greedy, you'll lose all the more.
「やれ」と言われると、却ってやる気がなくなる。
If someone says 'do it', on the contrary, I'll lose motivation.
情けが却って仇となることもある。
On the contrary, there are times when pity can backfire.
僕がいると却って邪魔になると思うんです。
On the contrary, if I stick around I think that I'll just get in the way.
お手伝いのつもりでしょうが、却って迷惑です。
I realize that you are trying to help, on the contrary you are getting in the way.
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却って – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
eefara
Is there any way to know other than context when かえって means “all the more” rather than “on the contrary”?
mattbacon
It’s when you would expect whatever the topic is to be less based on the first clause, and you negate that in the second clause. Example: “She told me not to, but I just wanted to do it all the more.”
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