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

HSK 4

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.

HSK 7-9

硬币的正反面图案不一样。

Yìngbì de zhèngfǎn miàn tú'àn bùyīyàng.

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