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反过来 (fǎn guo lái) — to turn over; to reverse (direction or order); conversely; on the contrary

Definition

反过来 is a verb–directional compound meaning 'to turn around / reverse direction', and also functions as a discourse marker meaning 'conversely, on the contrary' to introduce a contrasting statement.

verb
to turn overto reverse (direction or order)converselyon the contrary

Examples

  • 反过来。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè zhāng zhǐ fǎn guo lái xiě.
    Please turn this paper over and write on the other side.
  • ，反过来，。
    Tā yǐ wéi wǒ huì shēng qì, fǎn guo lái, wǒ hěn gāo xìng.
    He thought I would be angry; on the contrary, I was very happy.
  • 反过来。
    Wǒ men yīng dāng cóng zhèng miàn hé fǎn guo lái liǎng gè jiǎo dù fēn xī zhè ge wèn tí.
    We should analyze this problem from both the positive and the opposite perspectives.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

反fǎnreverse
过来come across
过guòacross来láicome
补充Verb + complement

反 means reverse; 过 and 来 add across and come, giving turn around.

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 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi過guò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →
Appears in
Cause, Effect & Logic

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