Usage note
反而表示和想法相反，结果更...。
fǎn ér biǎo shì hé xiǎng fǎ xiàng fǎn， jié guǒ gèng...。
反而 means instead or on the contrary, with a contrary result.
Context note
反而常用于转折和结果。
fǎn ér cháng yòng yú zhuǎn zhé hé jié guǒ。
It is often used with turns and results.
5 examples
他没生气，反而笑了。
tā méi shēng qì， fǎn ér xiào le。
He was not angry; instead, he smiled.
这样做反而更好。
zhè yàng zuò fǎn ér gèng hǎo。
Doing it this way is actually better.
我以为会难，反而很简单。
wǒ yǐ wéi huì nán， fǎn ér hěn jiǎn dān。
I thought it would be hard, but it was actually simple.
她没累，反而更精神。
tā méi lèi， fǎn ér gèng jīng shén。
She was not tired; instead, she was more energetic.
反而帮了忙。
fǎn ér bāng le máng。
It actually helped.
5 mini stories
老师本来很严，反而很温柔。
lǎo shī běn lái hěn yán， fǎn ér hěn wēn róu。
The teacher was expected to be strict, but was actually gentle.
他没少吃，反而吃得更多。
tā méi shǎo chī， fǎn ér chī dé gèng duō。
He did not eat less; instead, he ate even more.
本来担心，反而一切顺利。
běn lái dān xīn， fǎn ér yí qiè shùn lì。
I was worried at first, but everything went smoothly.
她没有生气，反而帮了我。
tā méi yǒu shēng qì， fǎn ér bāng le wǒ。
She was not angry; instead, she helped me.
这道题看起来难，反而不难。
zhè dào tí kàn qǐ lái nán， fǎn ér bù nán。
This question looks difficult, but it is actually not hard.
Mini dialogue
雨反而停了
A
我以为今天会下雨，带了伞，反而出了大太阳。
Wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān huì xià yǔ, dài le sǎn, fǎn'ér chū le dà tàiyáng.
I thought it would rain today, so I brought an umbrella. On the contrary, it's very sunny.
B
哈哈，天气预报有时候不准。
Hāhā, tiānqì yùbào yǒu shíhòu bù zhǔn.
Haha, the weather forecast is sometimes inaccurate.
吃药
A
吃了药，我感觉好点了吗？
Chī le yào, wǒ gǎnjué hǎo diǎn le ma?
After taking the medicine, do I feel better?
B
没有，你反而咳嗽得更厉害了。
Méiyǒu, nǐ fǎn'ér késòu de gèng lìhài le.
No, on the contrary, you are coughing even more severely.
Related words and contrasts
similar
却
què
but; however
反而 indicates an unexpected opposite result; 却 is a simpler contrast word.
similar
相反
xiāngfǎn
on the contrary; opposite
相反 is used to state an opposite fact; 反而 emphasizes an unexpected outcome.
related
竟然
jìngrán
unexpectedly; to one's surprise
竟然 expresses surprise at an outcome, often used with 反而 for emphasis.