反响
fǎn xiǎng · HSK 6
reaction
🔊 反 = reverse/return + 响 = sound: a sound that comes back
反 means turn-back or reverse; 响 means sound or echo. Together: sound returning — literally an echo, figuratively the repercussions or public reaction that bounces back after an event.
反 — hand 又 under cliff 厂
Originally a pictograph of a hand (又) turning something over against a cliff or slope (厂), depicting the action of flipping or reversing. From this came the core meaning 'to turn over,' which extended to 'opposite,' 'contrary,' and 'rebel against.' The character is purely semantic, with no phonetic component.
响 — mouth 口 + village/hometown 乡
Originally written 響, combining 鄉 (village, phonetic) with 音 (sound), suggesting sound echoing through a hometown valley. The simplified form 响 replaces 音 with 口 (mouth) as a semantic hint and 乡 as the phonetic. It means sound, echo, or to make noise.