Definitions

(adjective) contrary; opposite; against
(verb) to oppose; to resist; to rebel

Etymology

Originally written as , a pictograph of an upside-down person. The (walk) component was added later, representing a person walking in the wrong direction.

About

The character "逆" is structured with the movement radical 辶 combined with the component 屰, which conveys a sense of contrarianess or inversion, reflecting its core meaning of moving against or opposing. Historically, this composition has consistently implied opposition, from physical rebellion to abstract adversity. Over centuries, its semantic range expanded to encompass concepts such as disobedience, reversal, and mathematical inversion, while retaining its fundamental sense of contradiction. The character's form has remained relatively stable, without significant simplification, allowing its etymological roots to remain apparent in modern usage.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

风行走。

Wǒ nì fēng xíng zǒu.

I walk against the wind.

向行驶。

Tā nì xiàng xíng shǐ.

He drives in the reverse direction.

境让人坚强。

Nì jìng ràng rén jiān qiáng.

Adversity makes people strong.

球队转了比赛。

Qiú duì nì zhuǎn le bǐ sài.

The team reversed the game.

她的意见很耳。

Tā de yì jiàn hěn nì ěr.

Her opinion is harsh to hear.

年轻人有时会叛

Nián qīng rén yǒu shí huì pàn nì.

Young people sometimes rebel.

光环境下拍照很难。

Zài nì guāng huán jìng xià pāi zhào hěn nán.

It's hard to take photos in backlight conditions.

经济境中,企业需要创新求生存。

Jīng jì nì jìng zhōng, qǐ yè xū yào chuàng xīn qiú shēng cún.

In economic adversity, enterprises need innovation to survive.