反倒 (fǎn dào) — (adverb) but on the contrary; instead; contrary… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

反倒 highlights a result opposite to expectation ('contrary to what you'd think, instead…'). It's more colloquial than 反而 and, unlike 相反, it's an adverb that modifies a verb, not a noun.

adverb

but on the contraryinsteadcontrary to expectations

Examples

，反倒。
Tā bú dàn méi shēng qì, fǎn dào gāo xìng dì xiào le.
Not only was he not angry, but on the contrary he laughed happily.
，反倒。
Wǒ quàn tā xiū xi, tā fǎn dào gèng máng le.
I advised him to rest, but instead he got even busier.
，反倒。
Dà jiā dōu yǐ wéi huì xià yǔ, jié guǒ fǎn dào chū le dà tài yáng.
Everyone thought it would rain, but on the contrary the sun came out.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

反fǎncontrary

倒dǎoinstead

反 means contrary and 倒 means instead, giving a sense of but on the contrary.

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.

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

亻到倒

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

到

到dào倒dào

Same sound today

倒 combines 亻 (person) with 到, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Cause, Effect & Logic

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