The core meaning
予想に反して試験は難しかった means the exam was hard, contrary to what someone expected. The pattern creates a two-sided relation: first the expectation, wish, instruction or rule; then the actual result or behavior that conflicts with it. This makes it useful for reports about surprises and for describing actions that violate a stated rule.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 予想に反して、試験は難しかった。 | Yosō ni hanshite, shiken wa muzukashikatta. | Contrary to expectations, the exam was difficult. |
| 本人の希望に反して、予定が変更された。 | Honnin no kibō ni hanshite, yotei ga henkō sareta. | The schedule was changed against the person's wishes. |
How to form it
Put a noun for the prior standard before に反して: 予想に反して, 希望に反して, 規則に反して. に反する is used before a noun, as in 規則に反する行為. 反して is read はんして. It does not attach directly to an ordinary clause; identify the expectation or rule as a noun.
| Use | Japanese form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Expectation | 予想に反して | Contrary to predictions |
| Rule | 規則に反して | Against the rules |
| Before noun | 規則に反する行為 | An act that violates the rules |
Natural examples
Read each sentence for the relationship between the first idea and the second. The English translation gives a natural meaning, while the Japanese wording shows exactly where the pattern attaches.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| その行動は規則に反しています。 | Sono kōdō wa kisoku ni hanshite imasu. | That behavior is against the rules. |
| 期待に反して、客は少なかった。 | Kitai ni hanshite, kyaku wa sukunakatta. | Against expectations, there were few customers. |
Compare the nearby pattern
去年に比べて売上が増えた compares two periods without saying anyone was surprised. 予想に反して売上が増えた says the increase ran counter to a forecast. Against someone's wishes, 意に反して is a set phrase, but it does not mean that the action was against a formal rule.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 去年に比べて、客が増えた。 | Kyonen ni kurabete, kyaku ga fueta. | There were more customers than last year. |
| 予想に反して、客が増えた。 | Yosō ni hanshite, kyaku ga fueta. | Customer numbers rose unexpectedly. |
The two examples may describe similar situations, but they lead the listener to different conclusions. Choose the form that matches the claim you really intend to make.
Common mistake to avoid
Avoid saying 予想に反して when there is no identifiable prior prediction. The listener needs to know what was expected, either from the noun itself or from the surrounding context. For a plain comparison, use に比べて.
- A result conflicts with an expectation or rule
- Noun + に反して
- に反する modifies a noun
- Comparison alone uses に比べて
Try it yourself
Write one forecast and its opposite outcome, then combine them with 予想に反して. Make a second sentence comparing two years with に比べて so the contrast is clear.
Say your sentence once slowly while looking at the Japanese pattern. Then say it again without reading. If your second clause changes from a possibility to a fact, or from advice to a requirement, revise it so the grammar still matches your meaning.