正反

zhèngfǎn

noun #35,549

Meanings

1 positive and negative; pros and cons; both sides
2 front and back (of a coin, fabric, etc.)

Characters

upright, positive, front

reverse, opposite, back

Examples

我们要从正反两方面来考虑这个问题。

Wǒmen yào cóng zhèngfǎn liǎng fāngmiàn lái kǎolǜ zhège wèntí.

We need to consider this problem from both sides.

硬币的正反面图案不一样。

Yìngbì de zhèng fǎnmiàn tú'àn bù yíyàng.

The front and back of the coin have different designs.

Tips

usage

Three flavors: (1) abstract — 正反两面 = pros and cons; (2) physical — 正反面 = obverse/reverse; (3) debate — 正方/反方 = the affirmative and negative sides. The phrase 不论正反 ('regardless of which side') treats it as a free-choice pair.

Stroke Order

正 zhèng

反 fǎn