Contrast and comparison

～反面

on the other hand; while also

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How to form it

  • Verb/adjective (plain form) + 反面
  • な-adjective + な反面
  • Noun + である反面

Register: Neutral to formal

Explanation

Says that one thing has two opposing sides at once: a good one and a bad one, or vice versa.

Both sides belong to the same subject. The 'other side' is a real feature, not a different topic.

Examples

  1. この仕事は給料がいい反面、残業が多い。

    このしごとはきゅうりょうがいいはんめん、ざんぎょうがおおい。

    This job pays well, but on the other hand there's a lot of overtime.

  2. 便利な反面、問題もある。

    べんりなはんめん、もんだいもある。

    It is convenient, but it also has problems.

  3. 彼は厳しい反面、優しいところもある。

    かれはきびしいはんめん、やさしいところもある。

    He is strict, but he also has a kind side.

Compare with

  • ～一方(で): 一方 contrasts two different facts or situations; 反面 describes two sides of one subject.

Common mistakes

  • Using it to compare two different subjects. For that, use 一方 or に対して.