～に反して
Contrary to a rule, expectation, or prediction
You’ll be able to say that a result or action goes against an expectation, prediction, rule, or intention.
予想に反して、大きな魚が釣れました！
yosou ni hanshite, ookina sakana ga tsuremashita!
What do you think this sentence means?
Contrary to expectations, I caught a huge fish!
Contrary to expectations or predictions
～に反して means “contrary to” or “against.” It introduces an expectation, rule, prediction, or intention that the following result does not match.
親の期待に反して、兄は大学に行きませんでした。
oya no kitai ni hanshite, ani wa daigaku ni ikimasen deshita.
Against our parents’ hopes, my older brother did not go to university.
規則に反して、ここでたばこを吸う人がいます。
kisoku ni hanshite, koko de tabako o suu hito ga imasu.
Some people smoke here, against the rules.
State what the result goes against
Use noun + に反して. It is especially common with abstract nouns such as expectations, predictions, rules, or wishes, and has a fairly formal tone.
予想に反して、試験は難しかった。
yosou ni hanshite, shiken wa muzukashikatta.
Contrary to expectations, the exam was difficult.
多くの専門家の予想に反して、新人の選手が優勝した。
ooku no senmonka no yosou ni hanshite, shinjin no senshu ga yuushou shita.
Contrary to the predictions of many experts, a rookie player won the championship.
本人の希望に反して、彼は大阪の支店へ転勤することになった。
honnin no kibou ni hanshite, kare wa oosaka no shiten e tenkin suru koto ni natta.
Against his own wishes, he is being transferred to the Osaka branch.
住民との約束に反して、工事は夜遅くまで続けられた。
juumin to no yakusoku ni hanshite, kouji wa yoru osoku made tsuzukerareta.
Contrary to the promise made to residents, the construction continued until late at night.
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