Chinese word

反应

Pronunciation

Pinyinfǎn yìng

Meaning

  • verbreact

Example

听到这事，他没反应过来。tīng dào zhè shì tā méi fǎn yìng guò lái

He didn't react when he heard this.

Illustration for 反应 (react)

More examples

事故发生时，他及时作出反应，救了好几个人。shì gù fā shēng shí tā jí shí zuò chū fǎn yìng jiù le háo jǐ gè rén

When the accident happened, he reacted promptly and saved several people.

Core concept

A stimulus reaches a person or thing and sets off a visible or inner change.

Common phrases

  • 及时作出反应jí shí zuò chū fǎn yìng

    react promptly

  • 对药物有反应duì yào wù yǒu fǎn yìng

    react to medication

Similar words

回应huí yìng: Reply to what someone says or does, often through words or an action.
回答huí dá: State what the answer is when asked a question.

Definition in Chinese

对外界或内心的刺激或信息做出动作、表情或心理上的反应。duì wài jiè huò nèi xīn de cì jī huò xìn xī zuò chū dòng zuò biǎo qíng huò xīn lǐ shàng de fǎn yìng

Word origin

反 (fǎn, "turn back") + 应 (yìng, "answer") forms the image of an answer turning toward what affects it, extending from human behavior to bodily and physical changes.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may expect a clear spoken answer, but this word also covers a quick mental shift or visible sign, so a silent pause can still show that something has happened.

Other meanings

  • reactionnoun

Opposites

  • 无视wú shìnot take notice ofverb

Related words

  • 反应过来fǎn yìng guò láicome to realizeverb

Word lists with this word