反攻 (fǎn gōng) — to counterattack; to launch a counteroffensive | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

verb

to counterattackto launch a counteroffensive

Examples

，反攻。
Dí rén chè tuì hòu, wǒ jūn kāi shǐ le quán miàn fǎn gōng.
After the enemy retreated, our army launched a full-scale counterattack.
反攻。
Xià bàn chǎng tā men zǔ zhī le yí cì jīng cǎi de fǎn gōng.
In the second half, they organized a brilliant counterattack.
，反攻。
Zài biàn lùn zhōng, tā zhuā zhù duì fāng de lòu dòng jìn xíng le yǒu lì de fǎn gōng.
During the debate, he seized on the opponent's weakness and mounted a strong counterattack.

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fǎncounter

反 gives counter and 攻 gives attack, together meaning to attack in return.

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

工攵攻

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pūhand holding a tool or weapon

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

工gōng攻gōng

Same sound today

攻 puts 工, which gives the pronunciation, beside 攵, a hand holding a tool or weapon.

Appears in

Military & Defense

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