反共 (fǎn gòng) — to oppose communism

Definition

A political term meaning 'to oppose communism / anti-communist', used as a verb or attributive. Mainly encountered in political, historical, or journalistic contexts rather than everyday speech.

verb
to oppose communism

Examples

  • 反共。
    Tā gōng kāi fǎn gòng.
    He openly opposes communism.
  • ，。
    Tā fǎn guò gòng, dàn xiàn zài bù fǎn duì le.
    He opposed communism before, but now he doesn't.
  • 反共。
    Tā de fǎn gòng lì chǎng hěn jiān dìng.
    His anti-communist stance is very firm.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

反fǎnoppose
共gòngcommunism

反 (oppose) and 共 (communism) name opposition to communism.

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 →

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

  • 廾廾gǒngtwo hands
  • 口口kǒuan object

共 shows 廾, two hands, holding up an object. That object was written 口 and later became the 廿-like top.

Open 共 →

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