JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 6

～に対して (contrast)

Set one side against a contrasting side

You’ll be able to contrast two people, things, or situations by setting one side against the other.

Illustration of the scene described by In contrast to Ren being quiet, Mei is very lively.
Read it first

蓮れんが静しずかなのに対たいして、芽衣めいはとてもにぎやかです。

ren ga shizuka na no ni taishite, mei wa totemo nigiyaka desu.

What do you think this sentence means?

In contrast to Ren being quiet, Mei is very lively.

Why it means that

In contrast to another side

～に対たいして can mean “whereas” or “in contrast to.” In this use, it compares two parallel sides and highlights their difference.

Examples

姉あねは肉にくが好すきなのに対たいして、私わたしは魚さかなが好すきです。

ane wa niku ga suki na no ni taishite, watashi wa sakana ga suki desu.

My older sister likes meat, whereas I like fish.

夏なつは昼ひるが長ながいのに対たいして、冬ふゆは昼ひるが短みじかいです。

natsu wa hiru ga nagai no ni taishite, fuyu wa hiru ga mijikai desu.

In summer the days are long, whereas in winter they are short.

How it is built

Put the first side before に対して

Use noun + に対たいして, or a plain clause or adjective + のに対たいして. With a な-adjective, use ～なのに対たいして. The following clause describes the contrasting side. This is different from the other use of に対たいして, which marks the target of an action or attitude.

first side+に対して+contrasting side
Example

都会とかいは便利べんりなのに対たいして、田舎いなかは自然しぜんが豊ゆたかです。

tokai wa benri na no ni taishite, inaka wa shizen ga yutaka desu.

Cities are convenient, whereas the countryside is rich in nature.

Compare

～に対して (target) vs ～のに対して (contrast)

After a noun, に対たいして usually marks who or what an attitude is aimed at. After a clause, のに対たいして sets two sides against each other.

  • ～に対して, toward

    兄あには弟おとうとに対たいして厳きびしいです。

    ani wa otouto ni taishite kibishii desu.

    My older brother is strict with my younger brother.

    The younger brother is the one the strictness is aimed at.

  • ～のに対して, whereas

    兄あにが厳きびしいのに対たいして、弟おとうとは優やさしいです。

    ani ga kibishii no ni taishite, otouto wa yasashii desu.

    My older brother is strict, whereas my younger brother is gentle.

    Two people are set side by side and contrasted.

Examples

電車でんしゃは時間じかんが正確せいかくなのに対たいして、バスは道みちが混こむとすぐ遅おくれる。

densha wa jikan ga seikaku na no ni taishite, basu wa michi ga komu to sugu okureru.

Trains keep precise time, whereas buses are quickly delayed when the roads are busy.

平日へいじつの朝あさは電車でんしゃが混こんでいるのに対たいして、週末しゅうまつはいつも空すいている。

heijitsu no asa wa densha ga konde iru no ni taishite, shuumatsu wa itsumo suite iru.

On weekday mornings the trains are crowded, whereas on weekends they are always empty.

料理りょうり教室きょうしつの参加者さんかしゃは、男性だんせいが五人ごにんだったのに対たいして、女性じょせいは二十人にじゅうにんもいた。

ryouri kyoushitsu no sankasha wa, dansei ga gonin datta no ni taishite, josei wa nijuunin mo ita.

Of the cooking class participants, there were only five men, whereas there were as many as twenty women.

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