〜にひきかえ (~ni hikikae) — in contrast to ~
Puts two things side by side and gives the speaker's own feeling: 'one is good, the other is bad'.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Say you visit a friend's new apartment — big, new, right by the station.
- Back home, looking at your small old room, you think: 'in total contrast to his place, mine is…'.
- It sounds a little formal and written.
Meaning
- 「〜にひきかえ」= setting two things side by side and judging 'one is good, the other is bad'.
- It always carries the speaker's feeling — joy, dissatisfaction, embarrassment or complaint.
How to attach
- Directly after a noun: 去年にひきかえ
- Plain form of a verb or い-adj + の: よく働くのにひきかえ
- な-adj or noun + 「な」or 「である」+ の: 真面目なのにひきかえ
- 「それにひきかえ、…」, wrapping up the previous sentence, is also very common.
Versus what you know
N2「〜に対して」also shows a contrast (兄は背が高いのに対して、弟は低い), but it is a neutral fact that works in reports and statistics.
Watch out
- It is not used to compare bare numbers or facts (men 60%, women 40%).
- Nor to compare things you are only guessing about.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
去年の静かな正月にひきかえ、今年は家族全員が集まってにぎやかだった。
きょねんのしずかなしょうがつにひきかえ、ことしはかぞくぜんいんがあつまってにぎやかだった。
In contrast to last year's quiet New Year, this year the whole family got together and it was lively.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 正月 = New Year (N) → 去年の静かな正月 = last year's quiet New Year → it's an N, so 「にひきかえ」 directly = the exact opposite of that → then the speaker's joy: にぎやかだった.
兄が真面目なのにひきかえ、弟は毎日遊んでばかりいる。
あにがまじめなのにひきかえ、おとうとはまいにちあそんでばかりいる。
Unlike his hard-working older brother, the younger one does nothing but play every day.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 真面目 = hard-working (な-adj) → it's a clause, so 「な」+「の」: 兄が真面目なの → 「にひきかえ」 → then the speaker's complaint: 弟は遊んでばかりいる.
先輩の丁寧な仕事にひきかえ、私の報告書はミスだらけで恥ずかしい。
せんぱいのていねいなしごとにひきかえ、わたしのほうこくしょはミスだらけではずかしい。
In contrast to my senior's careful work, my report is full of mistakes — it's embarrassing.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 丁寧な仕事 = careful work (N) → 「にひきかえ」 directly → then the bad side of my own work, and my feeling: ミスだらけで恥ずかしい.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「姉が料理上手な＿＿＿、妹は卵も焼けない。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: What is needed after a な-adj clause?
It is a clause, so 「の」is needed: 料理上手なのにひきかえ. 「なにひきかえ」is wrong.
In which sentence is 「にひきかえ」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Is there a good/bad feeling, or just numbers?
にひきかえ needs the speaker's judgement. For bare numbers, use 「〜のに対して」.
A survey report, no feelings: 'Of men, 60% agreed, whereas of women, 40%' — which is natural?
💡 Hint: Which form compares neutral facts?
「のに対して」= a neutral contrast, right for a report. 「にひきかえ」needs a good/bad feeling, so it does not fit here.
Your score: /3