英语短语 "to the contrary" 是一个固定介词短语,核心含义是“相反的(事实/情况);与之前所述相反”,用于强调存在与某观点、陈述或预期对立的事实或证据。
表示“与…相反的情况/证据”,常用来修饰名词或补充说明“没有相反的信息”,强调“否定之前的假设”。
"to the contrary" 主要作后置定语(修饰名词)或介词补足语(搭配介词如 despite, unless, until 等),较少直接作状语(此时更常用 on the contrary,见下文区分)。
修饰表示“证据、信息、迹象、条款”等的名词(如 evidence, information, indication, clause, argument 等),说明这些事物是“相反的”。
I will trust his story unless I see proof to the contrary.
(除非我看到相反的证据,否则我会相信他的说法。)
There is no information to the contrary—the event is still on Saturday.
(没有相反的信息——活动仍在周六举行。)
The contract has a clause to the contrary that allows us to cancel.
(合同中有一个相反的条款,允许我们取消。)
常见搭配:despite (all arguments) to the contrary(尽管有相反的论点)、unless (there is) something to the contrary(除非有相反的情况)、until (we hear) something to the contrary(直到听到相反的消息)。
He坚持 his decision despite all objections to the contrary.
(尽管有所有相反的反对意见,他仍坚持自己的决定。)
Wait here until you receive word to the contrary.
(在这里等,直到你收到相反的通知。)
We’ll proceed with the plan unless there’s a reason to the contrary.
(我们会按计划进行,除非有相反的理由。)
偶尔用于句中作状语,强调“与预期相反”,但此时更自然的表达是 on the contrary(见下文区分)。
I thought she’d be upset, but to the contrary, she laughed.
(我以为她会难过,但相反,她笑了。)
需注意 "to the contrary" 与 "on the contrary"、"contrary to" 的区别:
短语 | 词性/功能 | 含义与例句 |
---|---|---|
to the contrary | 介词短语(后置定语/补足语) | 强调“相反的事实/证据”,修饰名词或搭配介词。 例:evidence to the contrary(相反的证据) |
on the contrary | 连词(插入语) | 直接否定前面的观点,引出相反的结论,相当于“恰恰相反”。 例:A: You’re late. B: On the contrary, I’m early.(A:你迟到了。B:恰恰相反,我早到了。) |
contrary to | 介词短语(接名词/从句) | 表示“与…相反”,后面直接接对比的对象(名词、代词或从句)。 例:Contrary to popular belief, dogs don’t always like bones.(与普遍看法相反,狗并不总是喜欢骨头。) |
"to the contrary" 本质是“相反的(修饰名词)”,核心是“用事实否定之前的假设”,常见于“有/没有相反的证据/信息”这类表达中。掌握它与 on the contrary、contrary to 的区别,就能准确使用啦!