反

• Pinyin: fǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 反 = 厂 (cliff/slope) + 又 (hand)

Meaning

Reverse; opposite; to turn over; to rebel. Indicates opposition, reversal, or turning something to its other side.

反 is a versatile morpheme. As an adjective/adverb it means 'in reverse' or 'on the contrary' (反而 = on the contrary). As a verb it means to turn over or revolt. It appears in many compounds: 反对 (oppose), 反应 (reaction), 相反 (opposite).

Examples

1. 你把这件衣服穿反了，要翻过来穿。 You've put this shirt on inside out — you need to flip it around.
2. 他反而因为被批评而更加努力了。 On the contrary, he worked even harder after being criticised.
3. 大家都同意，只有他一个人反对。 Everyone agreed; only he was opposed.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, discussion, description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你说的正好相反，应该先做计划再行动。(What you said is the exact opposite — you should plan first, then act.)
• 天气反常，十月份竟然这么热。(The weather is abnormal — it's surprisingly hot for October.)

Don't Say

• 单独用'反'表示'反对'时语气较强 — 在正式会议中用'反对'更礼貌 (Using bare 反 to mean 'I oppose' sounds blunt — use 反对 in formal settings for a more polished tone)

Origin & History

反 depicts a hand (又) turning something against a cliff (厂), conveying the idea of reversing or turning over.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal