反诘 (fǎn jí) — to counter with a question; to rebut; to refute

Definition

A formal/literary verb meaning to rebut by turning a question back on the speaker — used in writing, debate, and journalism rather than everyday speech.

verb
to counter with a questionto rebutto refute

Examples

  • 反诘。
    Tā zài biàn lùn zhōng qiǎo miào dì fǎn jí le duì fāng de guān diǎn.
    He skillfully rebutted the opponent's viewpoint in the debate.
  • 反诘。
    Jì zhě yòng jiān ruì de wèn tí fǎn jí le guān yuán de dá fù.
    The journalist countered the official's reply with sharp questions.
  • 反诘。
    Tā de fā yán bèi tīng zhòng duō cì fǎn jí.
    His speech was rebutted many times by the audience.

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
诘jiéquestion

反 means counter, and 诘 is a question.

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 詰; 诘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
吉
吉jí詰jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 詰 pairs 言 (speech) with 吉 as its sound part, and expresses the meaning of inquiring in detail.

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