にひきかえ
Meanings
- In stark contrast
- In comparison
- On the other hand
- While
- In sharp contrast
About this pattern
Explanation
ni‑hikikae (にひきかえ) is a formal, literary contrast expression meaning 'in contrast to' or 'on the other hand.' It compares two situations or states, with the second part highlighting a notable difference from the first. It tends to sound more elevated than the more common に比べて and is often used in written Japanese, journalism, or analytical writing. The sentence structure typically places the first statement before にひきかえ and the contrasting information after it. It can connect two clauses or a clause and a noun phrase, depending on what you want to contrast.
Learn in context
Example sentences
Last year the economy was good; in contrast, this year the economy is bad.
This shop is cheap; in contrast, high-quality products can only be found at that shop.
He was kind; in contrast, his colleagues were cold.
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More N1 patterns
from ... to ...; from start to finish; up to and including
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View detailsEven though; Even if; Although; Despite
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