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反思 (fǎn sī) — to reflect on, to re-examine (one's actions, a situation, etc.)

Definition

反思 means to re-examine one's own past actions, decisions, or ideas — a critical, often corrective look back. 比 回顾 (neutral review) more evaluative, and more outward-facing than 反省 (self-scrutiny of moral faults).

verb
to reflect onto re-examine (one's actions, a situation, etc.)

Examples

  • 反思。
    Nǐ yīng gāi fǎn sī yí xià zì jǐ de jué dìng.
    You should reflect on your own decision.
  • 反思。
    Zhè cì shì gù ràng wǒ men bù dé bù fǎn sī ān quán cuò shī.
    This accident forced us to re-examine the safety measures.
  • 反思。
    Lì shǐ xué jiā cháng cháng fǎn sī guò qù de jiào xùn.
    Historians often reflect on the lessons of the past.

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fǎnturn back
思sīthink

反 gives the sense of turning back, and 思 of thinking, so the idea is reviewing one's own actions.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
囟
囟xìn思sī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 思, 心 (heart) points to thinking, while the top part is a changed form of 囟, which supplied the sound.

Open 思 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Thinking & Cognition

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