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反驳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
反驳fǎnbóto retortHSK 7, v, rank #9243, Hard
反驳fǎnbóto refuteHSK 7, v, rank #9243, Hard
fǎnbó(fan3bo2) T3
  1. 1to retort
  2. 2to refute
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March 24, 2026
反驳(反駁)fǎnbó(fan3bo2)

反驳 (fǎn bó) means to retort or refute an argument or statement, often in a debate or discussion context. It implies providing a counter-argument that challenges the original claim, and is commonly used in formal discussions, academia, and legal settings.

Frequency#9243DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, debate and argumentation often emphasize harmony and respect, so using 反驳 should be done thoughtfully to maintain relationships, especially in public discussions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a '反' (fan) of a river that flows backward, indicating a reversal of thought. Pair this with '驳' (bo), which sounds like 'bark' as in barking back at someone in a debate. Visualize a dog barking back to refute a statement made by a cat.

Meanings of 反驳

fǎnbó(fan3bo2)
1to retort
2to refute
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 反驳

反驳Simplified
反駁Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9243Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 反驳

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Podcast: 反驳

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AI Study Notes for 反驳

Quick Contrast

驳斥 (bóchì) — use 反驳 (fǎnbó) for a more formal or nuanced refutation, while 驳斥 (bóchì) implies a more straightforward dismissal of an argument.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a '反' (fan) of a river that flows backward, indicating a reversal of thought. Pair this with '驳' (bo), which sounds like 'bark' as in barking back at someone in a debate. Visualize a dog barking back to refute a statement made by a cat.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone and situation when using 反驳; it is more formal and may come across as confrontational in casual settings. Common collocations include 反驳观点 (refute a viewpoint) and 反驳理由 (reason for retorting).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 反驳 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to argumentation and debate, such as 辩论 (biàn lùn, debate) and 论据 (lùn jù, argument). Focus on how to use it in formal contexts and in writing.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, debate and argumentation often emphasize harmony and respect, so using 反驳 should be done thoughtfully to maintain relationships, especially in public discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 反驳 with 反对 (fǎn duì), which means to oppose rather than to specifically counter an argument. For example, saying '我反对他的观点' (I oppose his viewpoint) instead of '我反驳他的观点' (I refute his viewpoint) changes the nuance significantly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 反驳

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Component Characters

反fǎncontrary
HSK 54 strokes又
View full entry
驳bóvariegated
HSK 77 strokes马
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Write 反驳

反
驳

Practice writing 反驳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 反驳

反驳 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

他不但不道歉，反而还理直气壮地____。

Not only did he not apologize, he actually argued back self-righteously.

Example Sentences for 反驳 (10)

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1
你准备好反驳辩护人提出的问题了 吗 ?

nǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo fǎn bó biàn hù rén tí chū de wèn tí le?

Are you ready to plead against the case offered by the defendant?
2
“喂，我不知道你在说些什么，”拉索反驳道。

“ “， wèi ， wǒ bù zhī dào nǐ zài shuō xiē，” shí mó ，” lā suǒ。

"Hey, I don't know what you're talking about," Russo objected.
3
“拜托！”多特反驳道，“它们又便宜又管用。”

“ “ bài！” tuō ！” duō tè fǎn，“ bó dào ，“ tā mén yòu biàn yí。”

"For heaven's sake!" Dot expostulated. "They're cheap and they're useful."
4
劳拉匆匆瞥了格雷斯一眼，想着他会厚着脸皮巧妙地反驳一下。

láo lā cōng cōng piē le gé léi sī yī yǎn， ， xiǎng zháo tā huì hòu zháo liǎn pí qiǎo miào dì fǎn bó yī。

Laura glanced at Grace, expecting a cheeky riposte.
5
在会议上，他提出了一个大胆的观点，但我立刻反驳了他的论据。

Zài huìyì shàng, tā tíchūle yī gè dǎn dà de guāndiǎn, dàn wǒ lìkè fǎnbóle tā de lùnjù.

During the meeting, he presented a bold point, but I immediately retorted his argument.
6
当她试图责备我时，我用事实反驳了她的指责。

Dāng tā shìtú zébèi wǒ shí, wǒ yòng shìshí fǎnbóle tā de zhǐzé.

When she tried to blame me, I retorted her accusations with facts.
7
经理提出了一个新的计划，但小李立刻反驳说这个计划缺乏可行性。

Jīnglǐ tíchūle yī gè xīn de jìhuà, dàn Xiǎo Lǐ lìkè fǎnbó shuō zhège jìhuà quēfá kěxíng xìng.

The manager proposed a new plan, but Xiao Li immediately retorted that the plan lacked feasibility.
8
在讨论中，他反驳了对方的观点，用数据证明自己的立场。

Zài tǎolùn zhōng, tā fǎnbóle duìfāng de guāndiǎn, yòng shùjù zhèngmíng zìjǐ de lìchǎng.

During the discussion, he retorted the other party's viewpoint by using data to prove his own position.
9
客户抱怨服务质量时，客服人员礼貌地反驳，解释了当天的特殊情况。

Kèhù bàoyuàn fúwù zhìliàng shí, kèfù rényuán lǐmào de fǎnbó, jiěshìle dàngtiān de tèshū qíngkuàng.

When the customer complained about the service quality, the service staff politely retorted, explaining the special circumstances of the day.
10
专家在直播中反驳了流行的误解，并提供了科学依据。

Zhuānjiā zài zhíbò zhōng fǎnbóle liúxíng de wùjiě, bìng tígōngle kēxué yījù.

The expert retorted the popular misconceptions during the live broadcast and provided scientific evidence.

Cultural Notes for 反驳

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, debate and argumentation often emphasize harmony and respect, so using 反驳 should be done thoughtfully to maintain relationships, especially in public discussions.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, retorting or refuting can be seen as healthy debate, whereas in Chinese contexts, it may be viewed as disrespectful if not done carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions about 反驳

It's best to reserve 反驳 for formal discussions, as it may sound too confrontational in casual settings.