逆に (ni)

Meaning & usage

逆に is an adverb meaning on the contrary, conversely, or in the opposite direction. It is used when the second situation reverses the first, or when a result is opposite to what was expected or intended. It stands alone before a verb, adjective, or whole clause and needs no special conjugation, as in 逆に数える or 逆に乾燥する. It is neutral in register and common in both speech and writing, but it must signal a clear reversal rather than adding unrelated information.

Example sentences 6

1. １０から０まで逆ぎゃくに数かぞえなさい。

   Count from 10 down to zero.

2. 当地は夏はひどく湿気が多いが、逆に冬は乾燥する。

   It gets very humid here in the summer. In the winter, on the other hand, it gets very dry.

3. 時計の針を、逆に回してはいけない。

   Don't turn the hands of a clock the other way around.

4. 「確かにそこまで美人だと逆に引いちゃいますね」「でしょう」

   "Certainly if someone is _that_ beautiful you'd draw back from approaching her." "Thought you'd agree."

5. 薬によっては、役に立つどころか逆に害になるものもある。

   Some medicines will do you more harm than good.

6. これは、話を面白くしようとして逆につまらなくなるパターンだな。

   This is a pattern of trying to make the story more interesting, but ending up making it boring instead.