反面 (はんめん)
Frequent Usages
- この仕事は楽しい反面、ストレスも多い
- 彼は優しい反面、少し厳しいところもある
- 都会の生活は便利な反面、物価が高い
- フリーランスは自由な反面、収入が不安定だ
- SNSは便利な反面、プライバシーの問題もある
Meaning and Usage
"反面" (はんめん) is used to express two contrasting qualities or characteristics within the same subject. It highlights a dual nature or opposing aspects of a single situation, person, or thing. Unlike "に対して," which compares two different subjects, "反面" presents two contrasting sides of one subject. This structure is often translated as "on the other hand," "while," or "but at the same time."
This expression is useful for describing mixed feelings, pros and cons, or positive and negative aspects of the same entity or scenario.
Form
- Verb (辞書形) + 反面
Used to describe contrasting aspects or results of an action.
自営業は自由な反面、責任も重い
じえいぎょうはじゆうなはんめん、せきにんもおもい
"Running your own business is freeing, but at the same time, it comes with heavy responsibilities." - い-Adjective + 反面
Used to express contrasting qualities within an adjective.
この都市は賑やかな反面、騒音も多い
このとしはにぎやかなはんめん、そうおんもおおい
"This city is lively, but at the same time, it’s noisy." - な-Adjective + な + 反面
Used with な-adjectives to describe dual qualities within one subject.
彼女は社交的な反面、内向的なところもある
かのじょはしゃこうてきなはんめん、ないこうてきなところもある
"She is sociable, but at the same time, she has an introverted side." - Noun + である + 反面
Used with nouns to express opposing qualities or effects within the same subject.
田舎は自然が豊かな反面、仕事の機会が少ない
いなかはしぜんがゆたかなはんめん、しごとのきかいがすくない
"The countryside is rich in nature, but at the same time, job opportunities are limited."
When to Use It
Use "反面" when you want to express two sides of the same coin, showing both positive and negative aspects or contrasting characteristics of a single subject. This structure is ideal for discussing situations or qualities that have both favorable and unfavorable elements.
- To describe the pros and cons of a single scenario:
この仕事は自由な反面、収入が不安定だ
このしごとはじゆうなはんめん、しゅうにゅうがふあんていだ
"This job offers freedom, but on the other hand, the income is unstable." - To show mixed characteristics of a person:
彼は真面目な反面、ユーモアもある
かれはまじめなはんめん、ユーモアもある
"He is serious, but at the same time, he has a sense of humor."
Examples for Each Form
- Verb (辞書形) + 反面
- 新しい環境は刺激的な反面、不安も多い
あたらしいかんきょうはしげきてきなはんめん、ふあんもおおい
"A new environment is stimulating, but at the same time, it brings a lot of anxiety."
- い-Adjective + 反面
- この町は安全な反面、少し退屈だ
このまちはあんぜんなはんめん、すこしたいくつだ
"This town is safe, but at the same time, it’s a bit boring."
- な-Adjective + な + 反面
- 彼は真面目な反面、面白い話もよくする
かれはまじめなはんめん、おもしろいはなしもよくする
"He is serious, but at the same time, he often tells interesting stories."
- Noun + である + 反面
- 都会である反面、自然も多い場所だ
とかいであるはんめん、しぜんもおおいばしょだ
"It’s an urban area, but at the same time, it has a lot of nature."
Improper Usage
Avoid using "反面" when comparing two completely different subjects, as it is meant to contrast different aspects within the same subject. If you need to compare different subjects, "に対して" may be more appropriate.
Key Points to Remember
- "反面" is used to describe two contrasting qualities or aspects within the same subject.
- It is useful for showing pros and cons or mixed characteristics, often with translations like "on the other hand" or "but at the same time."
- Unlike "に対して," which contrasts two separate entities, "反面" emphasizes dual aspects within one entity.
Formality
"反面" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, including both written and spoken Japanese.
Example Sentences
- その映画は面白い反面、少し難しい
そのえいがはおもしろいはんめん、すこしむずかしい
"The movie is interesting, but at the same time, a bit difficult." - 彼は社交的な反面、時々一人になりたがる
かれはしゃこうてきなはんめん、ときどきひとりになりたがる
"He is sociable, but at the same time, he sometimes wants to be alone." - インターネットは便利な反面、個人情報の流出リスクもある
インターネットはべんりなはんめん、こじんじょうほうのりゅうしゅつリスクもある
"The internet is convenient, but at the same time, there’s a risk of personal information leaks." - この学校は厳しい反面、質の高い教育が受けられる
このがっこうはきびしいはんめん、しつのたかいきょういくがうけられる
"This school is strict, but at the same time, it offers high-quality education." - 彼女は仕事ができる反面、プライベートでは無頓着だ
かのじょはしごとができるはんめん、プライベートではむとんちゃくだ
"She is competent at work, but at the same time, she’s indifferent in her private life."
