逆 meaning and stroke order
Contrary; opposite; backwards
How to write 逆, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 9
Meaning of 逆
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- contrary
- opposite
- backwards
- to go against
- to oppose
- to betray
How 逆 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A disobedient 屰 person 辶; 屰 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 辶 (to walk), shared by 131 characters on this site.
How to remember 逆
The walking radical 辶 shows movement, and 屰 looks like an upside-down person. A person walking upside down is going against the normal direction, so 逆 (nì) means to go against or rebel.
逆 (nì) appears mostly in compounds about going the wrong way or resisting, like 逆向 (nìxiàng) reverse direction and 叛逆 (pànnì) rebellious. Example: 他在逆境中没有放弃。(Tā zài nìjìng zhōng méiyǒu fàngqì.) He did not give up in adversity.
Common mistake: Learners confuse 逆 with 送 (sòng, to send) and 迎 (yíng, to welcome) because all three sit on 辶. Check the inner part: 逆 has 屰, which looks like 屮 with a stroke on top, not 关 or 卬.
Common words with 逆
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
逆 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 逆
How many strokes are in 逆?
逆 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 逆 mean?
逆 (nì) means contrary; opposite; backwards. A common word with it is 叛逆 (pànnì), meaning "to rebel; to revolt".
How do you pronounce 逆?
逆 is pronounced nì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 逆?
The radical of 逆 is 辶, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 逆 under this radical.
Is 逆 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 逆 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 逆水行舟 mean?
逆水行舟 (nì shuǐ xíng zhōu) means rowing a boat against the current. It is often completed as 不进则退, meaning if you do not move forward you fall behind, a common saying about studying.
How do you say counterclockwise in Chinese?
Counterclockwise is 逆时针 (nì shízhēn), literally against the clock hands. Clockwise is 顺时针 (shùn shízhēn), since 顺 (shùn) is the usual opposite of 逆.