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反驳 (fǎn bó) — to refute, to retort

Definition

反驳 means to argue back against a claim, view, or suggestion with reasons — a reasoned verbal rebuttal, not physical. 反对 signals general disagreement with an idea, 否认 means flatly denying a fact.

verb
to refuteto retort

Examples

  • 反驳，。
    Tā fǎn bó le wǒ de shuō fǎ, dàn zhèng jù bù zú.
    He refuted my claim, but the evidence was insufficient.
  • ，反驳。
    Zài biàn lùn sài zhōng, duì fāng xuǎn shǒu shì tú fǎn bó wǒ men de guān diǎn.
    In the debate, the opposing contestant tried to refute our point of view.
  • 反驳。
    Tā lì kè fǎn bó le nà ge bù hé lǐ de jiàn yì.
    She immediately retorted to that unreasonable suggestion.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

反fǎnoppose
驳bórefute

反 means oppose and 驳 means refute; together they describe answering an argument by turning it against its source.

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 駁; 驳 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
爻
爻yáo駁bó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 駁 pairs 馬, a horse, with 爻, which gives the sound and can also be interpreted as marks; the simplified 驳 is a later abbreviation.

Open 驳 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Conflict & Agreement

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