反正

• Pinyin: fǎn zhèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 反 = 厂 (cliff) + 又 (hand), meaning reverse; 正 = 一 (one) + 止 (stop), meaning straight or correct

Meaning

Anyway; in any case; regardless. Used to indicate that the result or conclusion remains the same no matter what.

A very useful conversational adverb that signals 'it doesn't matter which way you look at it.' Often used to dismiss alternatives (反正都一样 = it's all the same anyway) or to express a firm decision (反正我不去 = I'm not going anyway). Adds a casual, decisive tone to statements.

Examples

1. 反正明天不上班，我们今晚看电影吧。 We don't have work tomorrow anyway, so let's watch a movie tonight.
2. 你不去也没关系，反正还有别人。 It's fine if you don't go, there are other people anyway.
3. 反正我已经决定了，你不用再劝我。 I've already made up my mind anyway, you don't need to persuade me.

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, everyday, casual

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 反正时间还早，不着急。(Anyway, it's still early, no rush.)
• 反正都要买，不如现在就买吧。(We have to buy it anyway, so let's just buy it now.)

Don't Say

• 反正，我认为这个方案很好 (Don't start a formal presentation with 反正 — it sounds too casual and dismissive; use 总之 for formal contexts)

Origin & History

Compound of 反 (reverse) and 正 (correct, straight), meaning 'whether reversed or straight' — no matter which way, the outcome is the same.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal