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反问 (fǎn wèn) — to ask a rhetorical question (not expecting an answer); to answer a question with a question

Definition

反问 is asking a question back at someone — either to make a point (a rhetorical question) or to counter their question with one of your own. Unlike 提问 (genuinely seeking information), 反问 is confrontational and expects no real answer.

verb
to ask a rhetorical question (not expecting an answer)to answer a question with a question

Examples

  • 反问：“？”
    Tā fǎn wèn dào: "zhè nán dào bú shì zuì hǎo de bàn fǎ ma?"
    He asked rhetorically: 'Isn't this the best way?'
  • ，反问：“？”
    Nǐ wèn wǒ wèi shén me bú qù, wǒ fǎn wèn nǐ: "nǐ wèi shén me bù zǎo shuō?"
    You asked me why I'm not going, I reply with a question: 'Why didn't you tell me earlier?'
  • 反问。
    Bú yào zài kè táng shàng zǒng shì fǎn wèn lǎo shī.
    Don't always ask questions back to the teacher in class.

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
问wènask

反, opposite, and 问, asking, combine to mean asking so as to turn the expected answer 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 問; 问 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
門
門mén問wèn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 問 combines 口 (mouth) with 門, which gives the sound; the simplified 问 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 问 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Communication & Speech

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