contrary
contrary は英検準2級・英検2級・TOEIC 730・TOEFL 60・IELTS 5.5レベルの英単語で、「反対の、〜に反する、反対に、正反対」という意味があります。発音記号は /ˈkɑːntˌrɛri/ です。
意味一覧 (3件)
反対の、〜に反する
解説 Definition
形容詞では「基準・期待・規則などに反する」という性質を表す。contrary to ... の形で、予想、方針、常識と実際の結果や行動が食い違うことを示すほか、a contrary opinion のように反対意見にも使う。
Contrary means opposite in nature, direction, or opinion. It is used when one idea, result, or action does not agree with another. It often appears in formal or written English, especially in phrases like contrary to expectations or contrary to the rules.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
contrary to ... は、後ろに「照合する基準」を置くのが核です。contrary to expectations なら結果が予想から外れ、contrary to company policy なら行動が方針に沿っていません。opposite が位置・向きの反対にも広く使えるのに対し、contrary は判断や規範との不一致が中心。名詞 the contrary が「逆の事実」を指すのに対し、形容詞は名詞を修飾して「反する性質」を与えます。
Notice the root idea contra-, which means "against" and also appears in contrast and contradict. Contrary often shows up in the fixed pattern "contrary to ...," so memorize the whole chunk. It is more formal than opposite and is often used for ideas, results, or expectations.
例文
Contrary to expectations, the event was successful.
予想に反して、その催しは成功した。
She expressed a contrary opinion.
彼女は反対の意見を述べた。
His actions were contrary to company policy.
彼の行動は会社の方針に反していた。
反対に
(意味 2)解説 Definition
前に出た内容や予想と逆の方向を示すときに使う副詞的な意味。特に on the contrary では、相手の発言を受けて「むしろ逆だ」「いや反対に」と強く切り返す響きがあり、対比をはっきり示す。
As an adverb, contrary is mainly used to show that something is the opposite of what was said, expected, or believed before. It often appears in the fixed phrase on the contrary, which strongly means "actually the opposite" or "no, the reverse is true." It is also common in contrary to ..., when you want to say that a fact, result, or action goes against a rule, expectation, or common idea.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
contrary は contra-「反対」の仲間とまとめて覚えると残りやすい語です。contrast, contradict, counter などと同じで、何かに向かって逆らう向きのイメージ。特に contrary to ... は頻出で、「期待・事実・規則に反して」と基準から外れる場面でよく出ます。opposite が位置や向きの単純な反対にも使えるのに対し、contrary は意見・結果・判断の食い違いを述べる少しかための語。on the contrary は「それどころか」の決まり表現なので、形ごと区別して覚えると混同しません。
You can remember contrary by linking it with other contra- words that show opposition, such as contrast, contradict, and counter. The basic image is "moving against" something. Contrary to ... is a common pattern for facts, expectations, or rules that do not match. Also keep on the contrary as a fixed phrase, because it means "quite the opposite" and is stronger than simple opposite.
例文
I didn't mean to agree with him; on the contrary, I completely disagreed.
私は彼に賛成するつもりはなかった。反対に、完全に反対していた。
Contrary to our expectations, the meeting ended early.
私たちの予想に反して、会議は早く終わった。
Some people think the job is easy, but, quite contrary, it requires a lot of patience.
その仕事は簡単だと思う人もいるが、反対に、かなりの忍耐が必要だ。
正反対
(意味 3)解説 Definition
名詞では「言われたことと逆の事実・答え」を指す。ほぼ the contrary で用い、on the contrary は前文を打ち消して訂正・反論する場面、evidence to the contrary は「逆を示す証拠」という法的・論理的な文脈で出やすい。
As a noun, contrary usually appears as the contrary and means a fact, answer, or idea that is the opposite of what someone has said or believed. It is common in expressions like on the contrary, which is used to correct or strongly disagree with a previous statement. You also see evidence to the contrary in legal or logical contexts when there is proof that the opposite is true.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
the contrary を「反対側にある事実」として覚えると使いどころが絞れます。相手が「Aだ」と言ったとき、実はBだと示すのがこの名詞の役目。on the contrary は単なる yes/no の否定ではなく、「むしろ逆です」と切り返す合図です。形容詞 contrary to ... が基準との食い違いを述べるのに対し、名詞は反証そのものを名指しします。
Think of the contrary as the fact on the other side. When someone says A, the contrary is the piece of information that shows it is really B. The phrase on the contrary is a signal that you are not just saying no, but correcting the statement with the opposite idea.
例文
I thought he was angry, but on the contrary, he seemed quite pleased.
彼は怒っているのかと思ったが、正反対で、むしろかなりうれしそうだった。
Unless we hear evidence to the contrary, we will assume the report is accurate.
逆を示す証拠がないかぎり、その報告は正しいと考えます。
She expected support from the team, but the contrary happened and everyone objected.
彼女はチームの支持を期待していたが、正反対のことが起こり、皆が反対した。
contrary を含む表現
句動詞・イディオムなど 3 件。クリックで各表現の詳細へ。
contrary の語源・成り立ち Etymology
contrary は古フランス語 contraire を経てラテン語 contrarius に由来し、中心は contra「反対に、向かい合って」です。-ary は「…に関する」を表し、もともと「正面から逆向きの」が、そこから「反対に」という意味へ広がりました。関連語は contrast, contradict。
Contrary came into English through Old French contraire, from Latin contrarius. Its main root is Latin contra, meaning "against" or "opposite." The word first described something facing the other way, then developed the broader sense of being opposed in idea or action. Related English words include contrast and contradict.
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