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逆向 (nì xiàng) — in the opposite direction; reverse (as an attribute)

Definition

Formal adjective meaning 'reverse' or 'opposite-direction' — used in technical and written contexts (逆向思维 'reverse thinking', 逆向工程 'reverse engineering'). Pairs with 思维/工程/行驶; not casual speech.

adjective
in the opposite directionreverse (as an attribute)

Examples

  • ，逆向。
    Zhè tiáo lù shì dān xiàng de, nǐ bù néng nì xiàng xíng shǐ.
    This road is one-way; you cannot drive in the opposite direction.
  • 逆向。
    Tā yòng nì xiàng sī wéi jiě jué le zhè ge nán tí.
    He solved this difficult problem using reverse thinking.
  • 逆向。
    Zhè xiàng nì xiàng gōng chéng jì shù bāng zhù wǒ men fēn xī le jiù xì tǒng.
    This reverse engineering technology helped us analyze the old system.

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.

逆nìreverse
向xiàngdirection

逆 (reverse) and 向 (direction) together mean the opposite direction.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 辶辵chuòmovement
  • 屰屰nìgo against

The 辶 part shows movement, and 屰 gives the sound and the sense of going against, so the whole depicts moving in the opposite direction.

Open 逆 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

Open 向 →
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