恰恰相反

qiàqiàxiāngfǎn · HSK 7

Contrary

恰恰 = exactly + 相反 = mutually reversed; so exactly the opposite

相 means mutual and 反 means reverse, so 相反 is contrary; 恰恰 doubles 恰 (just/precisely) for emphasis. Together: precisely the reverse, quite the contrary.

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.

More Chinese words · How Chinese works