正反 (zhèng fǎn) — the positive and negative sides; pros and cons;…

Definition

noun

the positive and negative sidespros and constwo opposite aspects

正反。
Wǒ men yào cóng zhèng fǎn liǎng fāng miàn fēn xī zhè ge wèn tí.
We need to analyze this issue from both the positive and negative sides.
，正反。
Biàn lùn shí, shuāng fāng dōu tí chū le zhèng fǎn de lǐ yóu.
During the debate, both sides presented pros and cons.
正反。
Zhè ge zhèng cè de zhèng fǎn yǐng xiǎng dōu xū yào zǐ xì píng gū.
Both the positive and negative impacts of this policy need careful evaluation.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

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

正zhèngmain; positive

反fǎnopposite; negative

正 and 反 stand for the main and opposite sides, together meaning both aspects or pros and cons.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng正zhèng

Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

厂

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.