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反作用 (fǎn zuò yòng) — opposite reaction; counteraction; undesirable or unexpected side effect

Definition

In physics, 反作用 is 'reaction' — the equal and opposite force (作用力 vs 反作用力). In everyday use it means an unwanted or unintended side effect.

noun
opposite reactioncounteractionundesirable or unexpected side effect

Examples

  • 反作用。
    Zhè ge zhèng cè chǎn shēng le yì xiǎng bú dào de fǎn zuò yòng.
    This policy produced unexpected side effects.
  • ，反作用。
    Lì de zuò yòng shì xiāng hù de, yǒu zuò yòng lì jiù yǒu fǎn zuò yòng.
    The action of force is mutual; for every action there is an opposite reaction.
  • ，反作用。
    Yào wù suī rán yǒu xiào, dàn yě huì dài lái yì xiē fǎn zuò yòng.
    Although the medicine is effective, it can also bring some side effects.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

反fǎnopposite
作用effect
作zuòdo用yònguse
联合Coordinate

反 means opposite, and 作用 combines 作 (do) and 用 (use) to mean effect, giving an opposite effect.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng反fǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

Open 反 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
乍
乍zhà作zuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 亻 comes from 人, meaning 'person', and the right side 乍 gives the sound.

Open 作 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →
Appears in
Physics & Chemistry

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