On the other hand

This pattern is used to express contrast between two facts or situations, similar to "on the other hand," "while," or "whereas" in English. It's often used to present both a positive and a negative aspect of the same subject.

Formation

Adjectives: Attach -(으)ㄴ 반면에.

If the stem ends in a vowel, add -ㄴ 반면에 (e.g., 크다 → 큰 반면에).

If the stem ends in a consonant, add -은 반면에 (e.g., 작다 → 작은 반면에).

For adjectives ending in 있다/없다, use -는 반면에 (e.g., 맛있다 → 맛있는 반면에).

Verbs (Present Tense): Attach -는 반면에 to the verb stem.

e.g., 벌다 → 버는 반면에

Verbs (Past Tense): Attach -(으)ㄴ 반면에 to the verb stem, just like with adjectives.

e.g., 오다 → 온 반면에, 오르다 → 오른 반면에

Nouns: Attach -인 반면에.

e.g., 학생 → 학생인 반면에

Usage

The two clauses connected by -(으)ㄴ/는 반면에 must have the same subject if you're describing two sides of one thing, or different subjects if you're comparing two separate things.

맛은 있는 반면에 비싸요. / 월급은 많은 반면에 일이 힘들어요. / 어제는 비가 온 반면에 오늘은 맑아요.

Both -(으)ㄴ/는 반면에 and -지만 are used to express contrast, and they are often interchangeable. However, there are subtle differences in nuance.

Nuance

-지만: This is the most common and general way to say "but." It's used widely in both spoken and written Korean and simply connects two contrasting facts.

이 식당은 맛있지만 비싸요. (This restaurant is tasty, but it's expensive.)

-(으)ㄴ/는 반면에: This pattern feels slightly more formal or descriptive. It emphasizes the two-sided nature of something, as if you're presenting a balanced view ("on the one hand... on the other hand..."). It highlights that two contrasting qualities exist at the same time.

이 식당은 맛있는 반면에 비싸요. (This restaurant is tasty; on the other hand, it's expensive.)

Particle Emphasis

When using -(으)ㄴ/는 반면에, it's very common to attach the topic particle -은/는 to the noun in the first clause to emphasize the point of contrast (e.g., 맛은 있는 반면에..., 성격은 좋은 반면에...). While possible with -지만, it's a hallmark of the 반면에 structure.