反问

• Pinyin: fǎn wèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 反 = reverse, counter; 问 = 门 (gate) + 口 (mouth) — asking at the gate

Meaning

To ask in retort; rhetorical question. Asking a question that implies its own answer or challenges the other person's point.

A rhetorical device where a question is posed not to get information but to make a point. 反问句 (rhetorical question) is a common grammatical term. Can be confrontational or used for emphasis. The expected answer is the opposite of what the literal question suggests.

Examples

1. 他没有直接回答，而是反问道：这难道不是你自己的决定吗？ He didn't answer directly, but instead asked in retort: 'Wasn't this your own decision?
2. 老师用反问的方式引导学生思考，而不是直接给出答案。 The teacher uses rhetorical questions to guide students' thinking rather than giving answers directly.
3. 她生气地反问：你凭什么这样说我？ She angrily retorted: 'What gives you the right to talk about me like that?

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, argument, teaching

Tone: confrontational

Do Say

• 他总喜欢用反问来回答问题。(He always likes to answer questions with rhetorical questions.)
• 难道你不觉得这样做不对吗？(Don't you think it's wrong to do this?)

Don't Say

• 把所有问句都叫反问 (Don't call every question a 反问 — it specifically refers to rhetorical questions or retorts, not genuine information-seeking questions)

Origin & History

Compound of 反 (reverse, counter) + 问 (ask). Asking a question back or asking to counter.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal