TongTong
Sign in

反对 (fǎn duì) — to oppose, to be against, to object to

Definition

反对 is a general, everyday word for 'to oppose / be against' a plan, rule, or idea. 对抗 and 对立 describe conflict or antagonism between two sides, not disagreement with a proposal.

verb
to opposeto be againstto object to

Examples

  • 反对？
    Yǒu rén fǎn duì zhè ge zhǔ yì ma?
    Does anyone object to this idea?
  • 反对。
    Wǒ fǎn duì tā de zuò fǎ.
    I oppose his way of doing things.
  • 反对。
    Tā men fǎn duì xīn guī dìng.
    They are against the new rule.

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fǎnagainst
对duìconfront

反 and 对 both point to opposing or confronting, so the idea is to be against.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.

Open 对 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Conflict & Agreement2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.