反语 (fǎn yǔ) — verbal irony; saying the opposite of one's actual meaning for effect (sarcasm, humor, or emphasis)

Definition

反语 (fǎnyǔ) is the rhetorical device of 'verbal irony' — saying the opposite of what you mean for sarcasm, humor, or emphasis. The examples tag it as 讽刺 (satire/mocking), the framing effect.

noun
verbal ironysaying the opposite of one's actual meaning for effect (sarcasm, humor, or emphasis)

Examples

  • 反语
    Tā yòng fǎn yǔ shuō 'nǐ zhēn shì gè dà hǎo rén', qí shí zài fěng cì wǒ.
    He used irony to say 'You're such a good person,' but he was actually mocking me.
  • 反语
    Zhè piān wén zhāng chōng mǎn le fǎn yǔ, dú qǐ lái hěn yǒu fěng cì yì wèi.
    This essay is full of irony and reads as very satirical.
  • 反语
    Zài zhōng wén xiū cí zhōng, fǎn yǔ shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de biǎo dá fāng shì.
    In Chinese rhetoric, verbal irony is a common mode of expression.

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