反证 (fǎn zhèng) — (noun) disproof; counterevidence; (verb) to disprove; to provide counterevidence

Definition

A formal/logical term: as a noun, evidence or argument used to disprove a claim (more rigorous than 一般反驳); as a verb, to disprove a claim by presenting such counterevidence.

noun
disproofcounterevidence
verb
to disproveto provide counterevidence
Easily confused

Examples

  • 反证，。
    Tā de lǐ lùn quē fá fǎn zhèng, suǒ yǐ hěn nán bèi tuī fān.
    His theory lacks counterevidence, so it's hard to refute.
  • 反证。
    Lǜ shī yòng xīn de zhèng jù fǎn zhèng le duì fāng de shuō fǎ.
    The lawyer disproved the other side's claim with new evidence.
  • ，反证。
    Zài luó ji xué zhōng, fǎn zhèng shì yì zhǒng zhòng yào de lùn zhèng fāng fǎ.
    In logic, disproof is an important method of argument.

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fǎnopposite
证zhèngproof

反 gives the idea of opposite or contrary, and 证 names proof or evidence, so the word denotes counterevidence or disproving.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 證; 证 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
登
登dēng證zhèng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 證 pairs 言, a words/speech part, with 登 as a sound clue; the simplified 证 is a later shorthand.

Open 证 →

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