Hey everyone !

I'm not sure I understand how to use 反面

In the Shinkanzen Master N3, it says that 反面 is used to say "but on the other hand", to present both side of a proposition.

I wanted to say "Getting up early is practical to work, but on the other hand I wish I slept longer", so I said :

早く起きるのは働くのために便利反面、もっと長く眠りたかった

A japanese friend of mine told me this doesn't work but couldn't quite explain why.

In the book, one of the example is 仕事を辞めて自由な時間が増えた反面、緊張感もなくなってしまった

but I don't understand why it's okay for this one but not in my case =/

Can someone please explain ? Thank you !

Question

Hey everyone !

I'm not sure I understand how to use 反面

In the Shinkanzen Master N3, it says that 反面 is used to say "but on the other hand", to present both side of a proposition.

I wanted to say "Getting up early is practical to work, but on the other hand I wish I slept longer", so I said :

早く起きるのは働くのために便利反面、もっと長く眠りたかった

A japanese friend of mine told me this doesn't work but couldn't quite explain why.

In the book, one of the example is 仕事を辞めて自由な時間が増えた反面、緊張感もなくなってしまった

but I don't understand why it's okay for this one but not in my case =/

Can someone please explain ? Thank you !

n3636 · Accepted Answer

Aである反面Bである。
In the above sentence, A and B have to be opposite each other, like advantage and disadvantage.

"Getting up early is practical to work" is advantage.
"I wish I slept longer" is not disadvantage but your desire.

The correct Japanese for what you are trying to say would be as follows.
早起きは働くのには有用だけど、もっと眠りたかった。

If you want to use 反面, you could say  as follows. 
早起きは働くのに利点がある反面、睡眠時間が短くなる欠点がある。

kicchuu · Answer

反面の前と後ろで、文章を分けてみましょう

早く起きるのは働くために便利／早く起きるのはもっと早く眠りたかった
2番目の文章の意味が通じないので、反面が使えません

早く起きるのは働くために便利な反面、睡眠不足を招く
早く起きるのは働くために便利／早く起きるのは睡眠不足を招く
2番目の文章も意味が通じますので、これなら反面を使えます。

例文の場合、
仕事を辞めて自由な時間が増えた／仕事を辞めて緊張感もなくなってしまった
2番目の文章も意味が通じますから、これも正しいです。

amikoooo · Answer

Hi,

For me, I use 反面・反面で〜 like “while”but for same thing.

to explain opposites side traits, fact of one thing or person.

In the sense, your

Getting up early is practical to work 
早く起きるのは働くために便利
+ 
I wish I slept longer
もっと長く眠りたかった

I can understand what you want to say fine, but It also feels little off because

早く起きるのは働くために便利 sounds like you are stating a general fact

もっと長く眠りたかったnow you are stating your thoughts/feeling at a moment

The book example sounds to me talking about one thing: the affect you are talking about what changed so after quitting the job.

So other examples can be:

Joe said, “technology makes people’s daily lives convenient 反面で, it steals some people’s job.”

ジョーは、”テクノロジーは人々の日々の暮らしを便利にする反面で、人々の仕事を奪う”と言いました。

私の同僚はいつも早起きは仕事にとって大切だと言う反面で、いつも朝1番最後にくる。

My colleague always say “waking up morning is so important for work”, she is always the last person to show up to the office.

I’m talking about two opposites side of he characteristic.

I also think people use 反面 in writing but not so much in conversation.