适得其反 (shì dé qí fǎn) — to backfire; to achieve the opposite of one's intention

Definition

An idiom meaning an action backfires — the result is the opposite of what was intended. Often paired with 反而 to highlight the ironic outcome.

idiom
to backfireto achieve the opposite of one's intention

Examples

  • 适得其反，。
    Tā zhè yàng zuò fǎn ér shì dé qí fǎn, ràng shì qing gèng zāo le.
    His actions backfired and made things worse.
  • 适得其反，。
    Pī píng yǒu shí huì shì dé qí fǎn, bù rú gǔ lì yǒu xiào.
    Criticism can sometimes backfire; encouragement might be more effective.
  • 适得其反，。
    Tā de hǎo xīn què shì dé qí fǎn, ràng péng you gēng shēng qì le.
    His good intentions backfired, making his friend even angrier.

Origin

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 適; 适 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
啻
啻chì適shì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 適 pairs 辶 (walking) with a sound part; its inner part was originally 啻 and was stylized into 啇. The simplified 适 is a later variant.

Open 适 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

Open 得 →

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

The modern form 其 comes from an early drawing of a basket, with a stand added underneath.

Open 其 →

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 →
Appears in
Cause, Effect & LogicIdioms & Set Phrases

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