Chinese word

恰恰相反

Pronunciation

Pinyinqià qià xiāng fǎn

Meaning

  • idiomon the contrary

Example

你以为他不关心，恰恰相反，他很在意你。nǐ yǐ wéi tā bù guān xīn qià qià xiāng fǎn tā hěn zài yì nǐ

You think he does not care, but on the contrary, he cares a lot about you.

Illustration for 恰恰相反 (on the contrary)

More examples

事实恰恰相反，证据说明他是受害者。shì shí qià qià xiāng fǎn zhèng jù shuō míng tā shì shòu hài zhě

The facts are quite the opposite: the evidence shows that he is a victim.

Core concept

An outcome turns the expected direction completely around.

Common phrases

  • 事实恰恰相反shì shí qià qià xiāng fǎn

    the facts are quite the opposite

  • 情况恰恰相反qíng kuàng qià qià xiāng fǎn

    the situation is quite the opposite

Similar words

适得其反shì dé qí fǎn: Describes an attempt or action that produces the opposite of its intended effect.
事与愿违shì yǔ yuàn wéi: Describes an outcome that fails to match what was hoped or expected.
截然相反jié rán xiāng fǎn: Describes two things or views that are clearly and completely opposite.

Definition in Chinese

结果或情况完全与预期或假设相反。jié guǒ huò qíng kuàng wán quán yǔ yù qī huò jiǎ shè xiāng fǎn

Word origin

恰恰 (qiàqià, "precisely") + 相反 (xiāngfǎn, "opposite") emphasizes that the actual result is precisely opposite to what was expected.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it often follows 你以为 (nǐ yǐwéi, "you think") to correct an assumption and signal a complete reversal.

Other meanings

  • the exact oppositeidiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word