反问
fǎn wèn · HSK 6
rhetorical question
❓↩️ 反 = reverse/turn-back + 问 = ask; a turn-back question
反 carries the sense of flipping or reversing, and 问 means to ask. Together they describe answering a question by flipping it back at the asker — a rhetorical counter-question rather than a direct reply.
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.
问 — gate 门 (phonetic) + mouth 口 (semantic)
问 is a phono-semantic compound. The 口 (mouth) on the inside gives the meaning—using the mouth to ask—while 门 (gate/door) supplies the sound, close to 'mén/wèn'. The traditional form 問 places 口 inside 門, vividly suggesting speaking through a doorway to inquire.