Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| …に対して | …ni tai shite |
| …に逆らって | …ni sakaratte |
| …に反して | …ni han shite |
These phrases are used to express opposition, comparison or defiance. …に対して is used for general opposition, directed action toward a target or to indicate 'in contrast to' when comparing two different things. …に反して is used specifically when something is contrary to a rule, principle or expectation. …に逆らって is used to express defying or going against something, such as a person's will or the natural flow of things.
Which one should you use?
The choice of phrase depends on the nature of the opposition. …に対して is the neutral option for general opposition, comparison or directed actions. …に反して is a formal way to say something is contrary to or in violation of a standard or rule. …に逆らって is more informal or emotional, implying an active defiance of someone's wishes or a natural force.
How do you pronounce it?
…ni tai shite
Did you know?
- If you are talking about something being 'against' a physical surface, such as a chair being leaned against a wall, you would not use any of these phrases. Instead, Japanese uses the particle を with the verb つける or the word 押し付ける to describe physical contact or pressure.
- The character 対 used in the phrase …に対して also means 'pair'. This reflects a cultural perception that opposition is not just a conflict, but a symmetrical facing-off between two entities.
- The phrase …に逆らって is derived from the verb 逆らう, which describes fish swimming upstream. Using this to express being 'against' someone implies fighting a powerful natural current.
Examples in context
- 彼は私の計画に反対しました。He opposed my plan.
- 彼は私の助言に逆らって行動しました。He acted against my advice.
- 彼らは私の提案に反対している。They are against my proposal.
- 彼女は両親の意見に逆らって行動した。She acted against her parents' opinions.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “against” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
