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反复 (fǎn fù) — (adv) repeatedly; over and over; (v) to recur; to relapse; to change back and forth; (n) repetition; relapse

Definition

反复 means 'repeatedly' or 'to recur' — covers both an action done over and over and a thing (illness, situation) that comes back. Stronger and more formal than 重 (simply 'again once'), and broader than 复发 ('relapse' of illness).

(adv) repeatedlyover and over(v) to recurto relapseto change back and forth(n) repetitionrelapse

Examples

  • 反复。
    Tā fǎn fù qiáng diào ān quán de zhòng yào xìng.
    He repeatedly emphasized the importance of safety.
  • 反复。
    Tā de bìng yòu fǎn fù le.
    His illness has relapsed again.
  • 反复。
    Qíng kuàng chū xiàn fǎn fù.
    The situation has seen a recurrence.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

反fǎnturn back
复fùagain

反 and 复 both suggest turning back or returning, so the idea is over and over.

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 復; 复 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 复 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (复习, 恢复) it is 復; in others (复印, 复杂) (答复, 反复) it is 複 or 覆.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chìwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
复
复fù復fù
Same sound today

The traditional form 復 combines 彳, a walking part, with 复, a sound part, to show walking back and forth.

Open 复 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Frequency & Duration

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