Chinese word

反问

Pronunciation

Pinyinfǎn wèn

Meaning

  • verbask back

Example

老师问他，他就反问为什么只有我没做。lǎo shī wèn tā tā jiù fǎn wèn wèi shén me zhí yǒu wǒ méi zuò

When the teacher asks him, he asks back why he is the only one who did not do it.

Illustration for 反问 (ask back)

More examples

法官问细节时，被告当庭反问法官：'证据在哪里？'fǎ guān wèn xì jié shí bèi gào dāng tíng fǎn wèn fǎ guān zhèng jù zài ná lǐ

When the judge asks about the details in court, the defendant asks the judge in return, "Where is the evidence?"

Core concept

A question turned back toward the speaker to expose a weak point or add force without seeking a real answer.

Common phrases

  • 反问道fǎn wèn dào

    ask back

  • 反问了一句fǎn wèn le yí jù

    ask back a question

Similar words

回问huí wèn: Answering a question with another question to invite a reply or more details.
反驳fǎn bó: Rejecting an opinion or claim by using facts or reasoning to show that it is wrong.
质问zhì wèn: Demanding a reason or explanation with strong doubt or blame.
质疑zhì yí: Questioning whether something is true or sound and calling for it to be checked.

Definition in Chinese

以问句的形式反问对方，用来揭示对方论点的矛盾、表达怀疑或加强语气，常不要求对方给出直接答案。yǐ wèn jù de xíng shì fǎn wèn duì fāng yòng lái jiē shì duì fāng lùn diǎn de máo dùn biǎo dá huái yí huò jiā qiáng yǔ qì cháng bú yào qiú duì fāng gěi chū zhí jiē dá àn

Word origin

反问 (fǎnwèn, "ask back") combines 反 (fǎn, "return or reverse") with 问 (wèn, "ask"), so a question is sent back rather than answered directly.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, an ask-back question can sound challenging rather than curious, so tone and context help distinguish it from a genuine request for information.

Other meanings

  • retortverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 反问句式fǎn wèn jù shìrhetorical-question formnoun

Word lists with this word