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反反复复 (fǎn fǎn fù fù) — again and again; repeatedly (emphatic)

Definition

A reduplicated adverb meaning 'over and over' — emphasizes repetition more strongly than a single verb like 重复 would.

bound form
again and againrepeatedly (emphatic)

Examples

  • 反反复复。
    Tā fǎn fǎn fù fù dì jiǎn chá le hǎo jǐ biàn.
    He checked it again and again, several times.
  • 反反复复。
    Zhè ge wèn tí lǎo shī fǎn fǎn fù fù dì jiǎng le hěn duō cì.
    The teacher explained this problem over and over many times.
  • 反反复复。
    Bú yào fǎn fǎn fù fù dì wèn tóng yí gè wèn tí.
    Don't ask the same question over and over.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

反反back and forth
反fǎnturn back反fǎnturn back
重叠Reduplication
复复again and again
复fùagain复fùagain
重叠Reduplication

反 and 复 both mean back and forth; their repeated forms stress persistent repetition.

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
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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 復; 复 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 复 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (复习, 恢复) it is 復; in others (复印, 复杂) (答复, 反复) it is 複 or 覆.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chìwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
复
复fù復fù
Same sound today

The traditional form 復 combines 彳, a walking part, with 复, a sound part, to show walking back and forth.

Open 复 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 復; 复 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 复 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (复习, 恢复) it is 復; in others (复印, 复杂) (答复, 反复) it is 複 or 覆.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chìwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
复
复fù復fù
Same sound today

The traditional form 復 combines 彳, a walking part, with 复, a sound part, to show walking back and forth.

Open 复 →
Appears in
Frequency & DurationIdioms & Set Phrases

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