connective N2 uncommon politewritten

一方では〜他方では〜 — on one hand ~, on the other hand ~

一方では〜他方では〜 ・ いっぽうでは〜たほうでは〜
Builds on 〜一方(で)

Meaning

Key sentence

On one hand the economy is growing; on the other, inequality is widening.

Formation

Attaches toFormExample
Clause 一方いっぽうでは + clause A、他方たほうでは + clause B 一方いっぽうでは〜、他方たほうでは〜

When: Formal/written; sets up a deliberate two-sided comparison. 他方たほうでは is often replaced by もう一方いっぽうでは in less formal writing.

Examples

On one hand he's a strict boss, but on the other he also has a caring side toward his subordinates.
This policy on one hand creates jobs, but on the other places a burden on the environment.

Easily confused with

一方で 一方いっぽうで can stand alone to add a single contrasting fact; the paired 一方いっぽうでは〜他方たほうでは〜 frame explicitly balances two sides against each other. 反面 反面はんめん contrasts two sides of the *same* thing (a single subject's pros and cons); 一方いっぽうでは〜他方たほうでは〜 can balance two separate matters as well.

See 一方では〜他方では〜 in real sentences

Jengo shows 一方では〜他方では〜 the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.

Study it in Jengo

Sources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.

← Back to the grammar tree