反感

• Pinyin: fǎn gǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 反 = 厂 + 又 — reversal/opposition; 感 = 咸 (all/salt) + 心 (heart) — a heart moved or stirred by something external

Meaning

Antipathy; aversion; a feeling of strong dislike or repulsion. Can be used as an adjective (feeling averse) or a noun (the feeling of aversion itself).

Describes a visceral negative reaction — not mere dislike but an instinctive recoiling. 反感 often has a moral or aesthetic dimension, triggered by behaviour one finds distasteful, hypocritical, or offensive. Common in discussions of public relations, interpersonal dynamics, and media reception.

Examples

1. 这则广告因过度渲染焦虑情绪来推销保健产品，引发了大量消费者的强烈反感，最终迫使品牌方发表公开致歉声明。 This advertisement sparked strong public backlash because it exploited anxiety to sell health products, ultimately forcing the brand to issue a public apology.
2. 她对那种动辄以权威身份压制不同声音的学术风气深感反感，始终坚持用证据和逻辑来捍卫自己的研究结论。 She strongly resents the academic culture of using authority to silence dissenting voices, and she has always insisted on defending her research conclusions with evidence and logic.
3. 公关顾问提醒企业，消费者对品牌行为的反感一旦在社交媒体上形成规模，往往会在极短时间内演变成难以逆转的舆论危机。 The PR consultant reminded the company that once consumers’ disgust with a brand’s behavior gains momentum on social media, it can quickly escalate into a public-opinion crisis that’s difficult to reverse.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, public relations, social dynamics, media

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 心理学研究显示，人们常对虚伪行为产生更强烈的反感。(Psychological research shows that people often feel stronger aversion toward hypocritical behavior.)
• 企业环保言行不一曝光后，迅速引发全球消费者反感。(After its environmental hypocrisy was exposed, the company quickly drew aversion from consumers worldwide.)

Don't Say

• 产生了很大的反感 — 很大 is too vague; use 强烈的反感 (strong aversion) or 普遍的反感 (widespread aversion) to specify the degree or scope of the negative reaction more precisely

Origin & History

反 (against/contrary) + 感 (feeling/sensation) — a feeling that turns against something; a reaction of revulsion

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal