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反响 (fǎn xiǎng) — public reaction, response, repercussion

Definition

反响 is the public 'response' to an event, product, or work (e.g. a film, speech, policy). Unlike 反应 (immediate reaction), 反响 emphasizes the wider social or public reception over time.

noun
public reactionresponserepercussion

Examples

  • 反响。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng zài guān zhòng zhōng yǐn qǐ le qiáng liè de fǎn xiǎng.
    This movie provoked a strong reaction among the audience.
  • 反响。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng zài shè huì shàng chǎn shēng le guǎng fàn de fǎn xiǎng.
    His speech generated widespread repercussions in society.
  • 反响。
    Xīn zhèng cè huò dé le jī jí de shì chǎng fǎn xiǎng.
    The new policy received a positive market response.

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fǎnreturning
响xiǎngsound

反, returning, and 响, sound, together suggest a sound coming back, hence public reaction.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 響; 响 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
音音yīnsound
Sound part声符shēngfú
鄉
鄉xiāng響xiǎng
Same sound today

The traditional form 響 pairs 音, meaning sound, with 鄉 to give its pronunciation. The simplified 响 is a later shorthand, so its visible parts are not the historical parts.

Open 响 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.