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反悔 (fǎn huǐ) — to go back on one's word, to renege (on a promise)

Definition

反悔 (fǎnhuǐ) means breaking a promise or commitment after it has been made — emphasizes the agent's change of mind, not regret in a moral sense. Distinct from 后悔, which is feeling sorry about a past choice.

verb
to go back on one's wordto renege (on a promise)

Examples

  • ，反悔。
    Tā dā ying bāng máng, dàn hòu lái yòu fǎn huǐ le.
    He promised to help, but then later went back on his word.
  • 反悔。
    Qiān le hé tong jiù bù néng zài fǎn huǐ le.
    Once the contract is signed, you can't back out.
  • 反悔。
    Tā fǎn huǐ le zhī qián de chéng nuò.
    She reneged on her earlier promise.

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fǎnturn back
悔huǐregret

反 and 悔 both express turning back or regret, together meaning to go back on a promise.

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
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi悔huǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

悔 pairs 忄, the heart part, with 每, which gives a sound hint.

Open 悔 →
Appears in
Conflict & Agreement

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