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反映 (fǎn yìng) — to reflect (light, image, or figuratively); to report, to make known (to a superior or authority)

Definition

反映 covers two main uses: a physical/optical 'to reflect' (like 反射), and 'to report/make known' to a higher authority. For 'embody' a quality, use 体现 instead.

verb
to reflect (light, image, or figuratively)to reportto make known (to a superior or authority)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 反映。
    Zhè miàn jìng zi néng fǎn yìng chū rén de yàng zi.
    This mirror can reflect a person's image.
  • 反映。
    Tā de chéng jì fǎn yìng le tā píng shí de nǔ lì.
    His grades reflect his usual effort.
  • 反映。
    Yuán gōng xiàng gōng sī fǎn yìng le gōng zuò huán jìng de wèn tí.
    Employees reported the workplace environment problems to the company.

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fǎnback
映yìngreflect

"反" gives a back or opposite direction, and "映" means to reflect, so together they mean to reflect or report.

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
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
央
央yāng映yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

映 pairs 日, the sun, with 央 as a sound element.

Open 映 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 4Communication & Speech

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