Meaning of 反正
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- anyway
- in any case
- to come over from the enemy's side
How to use 反正
反正 usually comes at the start of a clause or right before the verb, and it gives a reason that makes other details unimportant. It often sounds a little casual or resigned. Example: 别着急，反正我们有时间。(Bié zháojí, fǎnzhèng wǒmen yǒu shíjiān.) Don't rush, we have time anyway.
反 (fǎn) means reverse and 正 (zhèng) means upright. Whether things go the reverse way or the right way, the result is the same, so 反正 means anyway.
Common mistake: Learners often use 反正 like English "anyway" to change the topic, but in Chinese it means "regardless, the outcome is the same". To change the topic, use 总之 (zǒngzhī) or 不管怎样 (bùguǎn zěnyàng). Also keep the third tone on 反 (fǎn), and do not confuse it with 反而 (fǎn'ér), which means "on the contrary".
反正 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
反 fǎn · contrary · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
正 zhèng · straight · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 反正.
| 正在 | zhèngzài | to be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ing |
| 真正 | zhēnzhèng | genuine; real; true; really; indeed |
| 正常 | zhèngcháng | normal; regular |
| 正确 | zhèngquè | correct; sound; right; proper |
| 正是 | zhèngshì | is precisely |
| 正好 | zhènghǎo | just (in time); just right |
| 反对 | fǎnduì | to oppose; to be against; to object to |
| 反应 | fǎnyìng | to react; to respond |
| 正式 | zhèngshì | formal; official |
| 反复 | fǎnfù | repeatedly; over and over |
| 相反 | xiāngfǎn | opposite; contrary |
| 反而 | fǎn'ér | on the contrary; instead |
Questions about 反正
What does 反正 mean?
反正 (fǎnzhèng) means "anyway; in any case" and is used as a adverb.
How do you write 反正?
反正 is made of 2 characters: 反 (4 strokes), 正 (5 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 反正 an HSK word?
Yes. 反正 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 反正 and 反而?
反正 means the result is the same no matter what. 反而 means the result is the opposite of what you expected, as in 吃了药反而更难受 (chī le yào fǎn'ér gèng nánshòu), I felt worse after taking the medicine.
Is the meaning "to come over from the enemy's side" common today?
No. That sense is mainly found in historical or military writing about soldiers changing sides. In everyday speech, 反正 almost always means anyway or in any case.