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反弹 (fǎn tán) — to bounce back; to rebound (physically); to rebound (of stock market, prices); to backlash; to provoke a counter-reaction

Definition

A two-character verb meaning something bounces or springs back after impact. Used for physical rebound, market recovery (like 回升), and figurative backlash — distinct from 反击 (active counterattack).

verb
to bounce backto rebound (physically)to rebound (of stock market, prices)to backlashto provoke a counter-reaction

Examples

  • ，反弹。
    Qiú tī dào qiáng shàng, lì kè fǎn tán huí lái le.
    The ball hit the wall and immediately bounced back.
  • ，反弹。
    Jīng jì fù sū hòu, gǔ shì qiáng shì fǎn tán.
    After the economic recovery, the stock market rebounded strongly.
  • 反弹。
    Zhè xiàng zhèng cè yǐn fā le mín zhòng de qiáng liè fǎn tán.
    This policy triggered a strong backlash from the public.

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fǎnback
弹tánto bounce

反 means back and 弹 means to bounce, giving a sense of bouncing back.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōng
Sound part声符shēngfú
單
單dān彈tán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

Open 弹 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Economy & Trade

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