往返 (wǎng fǎn) — to go back and forth; to make a round trip | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

往返 is a written/formal verb for a complete round trip (going and returning), like 往返票 'round-trip ticket'. 来回 is the everyday spoken equivalent; 往来 adds the sense of social/commercial dealings.

verb

to go back and forthto make a round trip

Examples

往返。
Tā měi tiān zuò dì tiě wǎng fǎn yú gōng sī hé jiā zhī jiān.
He takes the subway round trip between company and home every day.
，。
Zhè zhāng piào shì wǎng fǎn piào, qī tiān yǒu xiào.
This ticket is a round-trip ticket, valid for seven days.
往返。
Zhè cì wǎng fǎn xū yào wǔ gè xiǎo shí.
This round trip takes five hours.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

'往' and '返' mean going and returning, so together they express a round trip.

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

止止zhǐfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

王

王wáng往wǎng

Same sound today

The form that became 往 paired 止, a foot, with 王 for the sound; a stepping part was later added, and the right side changed.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

辶反返

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòmovement

Sound part声符shēngfú

反

反fǎn返fǎn

Same sound today

返 pairs 辶 (movement) with 反 (sound, with the sense of returning); the whole character originally meant coming back along the path one came from.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Travel & Tourism

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