反驳

• Pinyin: fǎn bó
• Hanzi breakdown: 反 = 厂 (cliff/slope) + 又 (hand) — a hand pushing back against something; 驳 (駁) = 马 (horse) + 爻 (lines/change) — a multi-coloured horse, hence mixed/contradictory, to refute

Meaning

To refute; to rebut; to counter an argument with opposing evidence or reasoning.

Used in academic, legal, political, and everyday argumentative contexts. 反驳 implies an active, point-by-point rebuttal rather than a general disagreement. It requires a specific claim to counter and usually involves logic or evidence. More forceful than 反对 (to oppose) and more reasoned than 顶嘴 (to talk back).

Examples

1. 对方律师提出了一系列新的证据，逐一反驳了原告方关于合同违约的三项核心指控，使庭审局势发生了明显逆转。 The opposing attorney introduced a series of new pieces of evidence, refuting the plaintiff’s three core allegations of breach of contract one by one and clearly turning the tide of the trial.
2. 他在学术论文的结论部分专门设置了一节来反驳可能出现的批评意见，充分体现了严谨的学术态度。 In the conclusion of his paper, he included a dedicated section to rebut potential criticisms, fully demonstrating a rigorous scholarly approach.
3. 面对记者的质疑，这位官员以翔实的统计数据反驳了外界对该政策执行效果的负面评价。 Facing reporters’ doubts, the official used detailed statistical data to rebut negative outside assessments of the policy’s effectiveness.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, legal, debate, journalism

Tone: assertive

Do Say

• 多位学者从方法论层面对论文核心论点提出反驳。(Several scholars rebutted the paper's core argument from a methodological perspective.)
• 优秀辩手要迅速组织清晰严密的反驳，并强化己方立场。(An excellent debater must quickly form a clear, rigorous rebuttal while strengthening their own position.)

Don't Say

• 反驳他的人 — this phrasing is ambiguous (the person who refutes him, or someone he refutes); use 反驳他观点的人 or 被他反驳的人 depending on who is doing the refuting

Origin & History

反 (reverse/against) + 驳 (to refute/dispute) — to turn against and dispute someone's argument

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal