反语 (fǎn yǔ) — verbal irony; saying the opposite of one's actual meaning for effect (sarcasm, humor, or emphasis)

Definition

反语 (fǎnyǔ) is the rhetorical device of 'verbal irony' — saying the opposite of what you mean for sarcasm, humor, or emphasis. The examples tag it as 讽刺 (satire/mocking), the framing effect.

noun
verbal ironysaying the opposite of one's actual meaning for effect (sarcasm, humor, or emphasis)

Examples

  • 反语‘’，。
    Tā yòng fǎn yǔ shuō 'nǐ zhēn shì gè dà hǎo rén', qí shí zài fěng cì wǒ.
    He used irony to say 'You're such a good person,' but he was actually mocking me.
  • 反语，。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng chōng mǎn le fǎn yǔ, dú qǐ lái hěn yǒu fěng cì yì wèi.
    This essay is full of irony and reads as very satirical.
  • ，反语。
    Zài zhōng wén xiū cí zhōng, fǎn yǔ shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de biǎo dá fāng shì.
    In Chinese rhetoric, verbal irony is a common mode of expression.

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
语yǔwords

反 means opposite, and 语 is words or speech.

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 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
吾
吾wú語yǔ
Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

Open 语 →

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