反方 (fǎn fāng) — opposing side (in a formal debate or argument)

Definition

In a formal debate, 反方 is the team arguing against the motion (the "negative" side), paired with 正方 (the "affirmative"). A term specific to structured debate contexts.

noun
opposing side (in a formal debate or argument)

Examples

  • ,反方。
    Zài biàn lùn sài zhōng, fǎn fāng xū yào tí chū yǒu lì de lùn jù lái fǎn bó zhèng fāng.
    In a debate competition, the opposing side needs to present strong arguments to refute the affirmative side.
  • 反方,。
    fǎn fāng De guān diǎn suī rán jiān ruì, dàn quē fá shì shí zhī chēng.
    Although the opposing side's views are sharp, they lack factual support.
  • 反方,。
    Zuò wéi fǎn fāng, tā qiǎo miào dì zhǐ chū le zhèng fāng luó ji zhōng de lòu dòng.
    As the opposing side, he cleverly pointed out the flaws in the affirmative side's logic.

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fǎnopposed; against
方fāngside; party

“反” means opposed or against, and “方” means side or party, naming the side that opposes the proposition.

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 方 →

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