But on the other hand: 〜反面
plain form (N である, な-adj な／である) + 反面
Plain form + 反面: “…, but on the other hand…”. Two opposite sides of the same subject; for two different subjects, it's 一方で.
In short
〜反面 presents two opposite sides of the same thing or person: “…, but on the other hand…”. A strength and a weakness, an advantage and a drawback. The subject stays the same in both parts. Written register, argumentation.
- この薬はよく効く反面、副作用も強い。このくすりはよくきくはんめん、ふくさようもつよい。This medicine works very well, but on the other hand its side effects are strong.
- 都会の生活は便利な反面、ストレスも多い。とかいのせいかつはべんりなはんめん、すとれすもおおい。City life is convenient, but on the other hand it's stressful.
- 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's strict, but he also has a gentle side.
The basics
反面 means “the other side”. You describe a thing (or a person) from a first angle, then flip the coin: “but on the other hand…”. Both facts are true at the same time and concern the same subject.
This medicine works very well, but its side effects are strong.
- noun
- verb
- grammatical form
- adjective
- プラスチックは軽くて強い反面、自然の中でなかなか分解されない。ぷらすちっくはかるくてつよいはんめん、しぜんのなかでなかなかぶんかいされない。Plastic is light and strong, but on the other hand it breaks down very poorly in nature.
How to form it
反面 follows a plain form. With a な-adjective: な or である; with a noun: である. その反面 is used at the start of a sentence: “on the other hand”. Both spellings 反面 and 半面 exist; 反面 is the more common in this sense.
| Before | Example |
|---|---|
| Verb | よく効く反面 |
| い-adj | 厳しい反面 |
| な-adj | 便利な反面／便利である反面 |
| Noun | 人気商品である反面 |
| At the start | その反面、〜 |
- インターネットは便利だ。その反面、危険も多い。いんたーねっとはべんりだ。そのはんめん、きけんもおおい。The internet is convenient. On the other hand, it also has many dangers.
- この仕事は給料がいい反面、休みが少ない。このしごとはきゅうりょうがいいはんめん、やすみがすくない。This job pays well, but there are few days off.
Compare: 一方で, が／けれども, に対して
一方で (N2) also sets two facts side by side, but it accepts two different subjects (the city / the countryside). 反面 stays with a single subject. が／けれども simply contrast, without the idea of “two sides”. に対して compares two separate elements.
| Sentence | Right construction |
|---|---|
| この町は便利／家賃が高い (same town) | 反面 or 一方で |
| 都市は人口が増える／村は減る (two subjects) | 一方で |
| 兄は背が高い／弟は低い (comparison) | のに対して |
- 都市の人口が増える一方で、村の人口は減っている。としのじんこうがふえるいっぽうで、むらのじんこうはへっている。While the population of cities is growing, that of villages is shrinking.
- この町は交通が便利な反面、家賃が高い。このまちはこうつうがべんりなはんめん、やちんがたかい。This town has good transport links, but on the other hand rents are high.
Common mistakes
- Using it with two different subjects: “×兄は背が高い反面、弟は低い”; it's のに対して or 一方で.
- Forgetting な with a な-adjective: 便利な反面, not “×便利だ反面”.
- Being surprised by the spelling 半面: it exists too, but 反面 is the most common for “the other side”.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N2 point is on the Linimo Line (The environment) of the Nagoya lines.