〜に反して / 〜に反する (contrary to / in violation of)
N1 grammar pattern 〜に反して/〜に反する: expressing that something is contrary to an expectation, rule, principle, or agreement. Legal and formal register.
〜に反して / 〜に反する
Formality Level: Formal — legal documents, academic writing, journalism, formal criticism
Structure
| Form | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + に反して | Adverbial | 予想に反して |
| Noun + に反する + Noun | Prenominal | 規定に反する行為 |
Meaning
"Contrary to X / In violation of X / Going against X"
〜に反して has two main ranges:
- Violation of rules/agreements: contrary to legal, contractual, or social norms
- Contrary to expectations/intentions: result that does not match what was expected or hoped
Example Sentences
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 本規定に反する行為は、直ちに報告するものとする。 | Acts in violation of this provision shall be reported immediately. |
| 予想に反して、実験結果は仮説を強く支持するものだった。 | Contrary to expectations, the experimental results strongly supported the hypothesis. |
| 期待に反して、プロジェクトは失敗に終わった。 | Contrary to expectations, the project ended in failure. |
| 公序良俗に反する契約条項は無効となる。 | Contractual terms contrary to public policy and morality become void. |
| 彼の行動は本人の宣言に反していた。 | His actions were contrary to his own declaration. |
| 条約の精神に反した政策は、国際社会から批判を受けた。 | The policy contrary to the spirit of the treaty drew criticism from the international community. |
Comparison with N2 Equivalent
| Pattern | Register | Meaning | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜に反して | Formal | Contrary to X (rules AND expectations) | Broad: both legal violation and unexpected outcome |
| 〜に違反して | Formal | In violation of X (legal/regulatory) | Specifically legal/regulatory; ×期待に違反して |
| 〜に背いて | Semi-formal | Going against / betraying | Personal betrayal nuance; 期待に背いて (betray expectations) |
| 〜に反した | Formal (prenominal) | Contrary to X (adj form) | Modifies a following noun |
Critical distinction: 〜に違反して requires an explicitly stated rule, law, or agreement. 〜に反して is broader — it works for expectations, spirit, principles, and rules alike.
When NOT to Use
- Do not use に違反して for expectations: ❌ 予想に違反して (違反 requires a stated rule)
- Do not use に反して for personal emotional betrayal: 「期待に背く」or「裏切る」are more natural for personal/emotional betrayal. 〜に反する is more formal/analytical.