Grammar › Concession & Contrast
反面(はんめん) — “on the other hand (a contrasting side of the same thing)”
Names two contrasting qualities that both belong to the very same subject
Plain form (or noun + である) + 反面 shows a second, contrasting quality that belongs to the exact same subject as the first — “while X is true (of this one thing), on the other hand Y is also true (of it).” It's very close to 一方で, but 反面 leans specifically toward highlighting a trade-off within one single subject.
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Plain form + 反面 | 便利な反面、危険も伴う — While convenient, it also carries risk |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 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。 konokusurihayokukikuhanmen、fukusayoumotsuyoi。 | While this medicine works well, its side effects are also strong. |
| 彼は仕事に厳しい反面、家族には優しい。 | かれはしごとにきびしいはんめん、かぞくにはやさしい。 karehashigotonikibishiihanmen、kazokunihayasashii。 | While he's strict at work, he's kind to his family. |
| 都会は便利な反面、人混みがストレスになる。 | とかいはべんりなはんめん、ひとごみがすとれすになる。 tokaihabenrinahanmen、hitogomigasutoresuninaru。 | While the city is convenient, the crowds are stressful. |
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Watch out
反面 needs both qualities to belong to the exact same subject — for contrasting two entirely different subjects, plain 一方で or が is the more natural connector.