HSK 7-9
反倒
fǎndào
On the contrary; instead
Structure
Subject + [Expected Condition] + (不但/不仅/非但) + 没有... + 反倒 + [Opposite Result]
How it works
The adverb '反倒' (fǎndào) is used to express that a result or situation is the opposite of what was expected or logical. It emphasizes a contradiction, often implying that an action led to a counterproductive effect.
Examples
为了省钱他买了廉价的零件，结果坏得快，反倒多花了维修费。
Wèile shěngqián tā mǎile liánjià de língjiàn, jiéguǒ huài de kuài, fǎndào duō huāle wéixiūfèi.
To save money he bought cheap parts; as a result, they broke quickly, and he ended up spending more on repairs instead.
听了朋友的安慰，他并没有振作起来，反倒哭得更伤心了。
Tīngle péngyǒu de ānwèi, tā bìng méiyǒu zhènzuò qǐlái, fǎndào kū de gèng shāngxīn le.
After hearing his friend's comfort, he didn't cheer up; on the contrary, he cried even more bitterly.
这种药不仅没治好他的失眠，反倒让他整天昏昏欲睡。
Zhè zhǒng yào bùjǐn méi zhì hǎo tā de shīmián, fǎndào ràng tā zhěngtiān hūnhūn-yùshuì.
This medicine not only failed to cure his insomnia but instead made him drowsy all day long.
Common mistakes
Confusing '反倒' with '反而'. While they are often interchangeable, '反倒' is more colloquial and emphasizes the unexpected nature of the outcome more strongly than the formal '反而'.
Tip
When using '反倒', always establish the expectation first (e.g., 'I thought X would happen...') to make the contrast clear.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See 反倒 in real Chinese
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