反正 (fǎn zhèng) — anyway; in any case; regardless | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Says 'anyway / in any case' to dismiss reasons and move on. Like 无论如何 (more formal) but casual and spoken; weaker than 好歹 ('after all / for better or worse').

adverb

anywayin any caseregardless

Examples

反正，。
fǎn zhèng Wǒ yě bù xiǎng qù, nǐ bāng wǒ gēn tā shuō yī shēng ba.
Anyway, I don't want to go either, so please tell him for me.
反正，。
fǎn zhèng Shí jiān hái zǎo, wǒ men màn màn zǒu guò qù ba.
In any case, it's still early, so let's walk over slowly.
，反正。
Bù guǎn nǐ zěn me shuō, fǎn zhèng wǒ bù xiāng xìn.
No matter what you say, I don't believe it anyway.

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fǎnopposite

正zhèngupright

"反" and "正" are opposite states, so together they mean regardless of which, anyway.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng正zhèng

Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Grammar

Full explanation →

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 HSK 2.0 Level 5 2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.