反倒 fǎndào but on the contrary
(colloquial) but on the contrary; but instead
How to remember 反倒: 反 oppose + 倒 collapse = but on the contrary.
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How it is used
- Colloquial 'on the contrary / instead (unexpectedly)' - 我道歉，他反倒生气了 (I apologized, but he got angry instead).
- Marks a result that runs counter to expectation. Near-synonym 反而 (fǎn'ér) is slightly more neutral/written; 反倒 is more spoken.