违反 (wéi fǎn) — to violate, to break (a law, rule, regulation,… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal written verb meaning 'to violate / break' (laws, rules, contracts, agreements). Broader than 违法 (specifically illegal) and 违规 (specifically rules/regulations); more formal than 违背.

verb

to violateto break (a law, rule, regulation, agreement)

Examples

违反。
Tā yīn wèi wéi fǎn fǎ lǜ bèi pàn le xíng.
He was sentenced for violating the law.
违反。
Rèn hé wéi fǎn hé tong de xíng wéi dōu yào chéng dān hòu guǒ.
Any act that violates a contract must bear the consequences.
违反。
Gōng sī yán jìn wéi fǎn ān quán cāo zuò guī chéng.
The company strictly prohibits violating safety operating procedures.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

违wéiviolate

违 means violate and 反 means oppose, so together they express going against a rule.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 違; 违 is its simplified writing.

辶韋違

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

韋

韋wéi違wéi

Same sound today

The traditional form 違 pairs 辶, which shows walking, with 韋 to give the sound. The simplified 违 is a later shorthand.

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.

Appears in

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