反目 (fǎn mù) — to have a falling out (especially between spouses, siblings, or close relations)

Definition

反目 (fǎn mù) means 'to fall out bitterly' — specifically between close relations (spouses, siblings, family). The 反 + 目 framing implies turning one's eyes against someone, so it is stronger and more hostile than a casual quarrel.

verb
to have a falling out (especially between spouses, siblings, or close relations)

Examples

  • 反目。
    Nà duì fū qī yīn wèi qián de wèn tí fǎn mù le.
    That couple fell out over money issues.
  • 反目。
    Jiě mèi zhī jiān bú yīng gāi qīng yì fǎn mù.
    Sisters should not easily fall out.
  • ，。
    Tā men liǎ fǎn le mù, zài yě bù shuō huà le.
    The two of them fell out and no longer speak to each other.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

反fǎnturn away
目mùeye

反 means turn away and 目 is eye; the image is eyes turned away from each other, hence a falling out.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

目 began as a drawing of a human eye, turned sideways.

Open 目 →

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