Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
反省 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
反省fǎnxǐngto reflect upon oneselfHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10160, Very Hard
反省fǎnxǐngto examine one's conscienceHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10160, Very Hard
反省fǎnxǐngto question oneselfHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10160, Very Hard
反省fǎnxǐngto search one's soulHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10160, Very Hard
fǎnxǐng(fan3xing3)fan xing T3
  1. 1to reflect upon oneself
  2. 2to examine one's conscience
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

反省fǎnxǐng(fan3xing3)

反省 (fǎn xǐng) means to reflect upon oneself, often in the context of examining one's conscience or actions. It is commonly used when discussing personal growth, moral introspection, or evaluating decisions. This term emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and accountability in personal development.

Strokes13Frequency#10160DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, self-reflection is often seen as a crucial part of personal and moral development, influenced by Confucian ideals. Practicing 反省 is considered a way to cultivate humility and responsibility.

Memory tip

Imagine a person looking into a mirror (反) to see their reflection (省), questioning their actions and seeking to improve themselves. The '反' (fan) represents turning back or reflecting, while '省' (xing) can evoke the idea of examining or reviewing one's inner state.

Meanings of 反省

fǎnxǐng(fan3xing3)
1to reflect upon oneself
2to examine one's conscience
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 反省 means.

About 反省

反省Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 反省

JasonAmy

Podcast: 反省

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 反省

Quick Contrast

自省 (zìxǐng) vs 反思 (fǎnsī) — use 反省 when focusing on moral or ethical reflection, while 自省 emphasizes self-examination for personal improvement, and 反思 often refers to reviewing past events or decisions.

Usage Notes

反省 is typically used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about ethics or personal development. Common collocations include 进行反省 (to carry out self-reflection) and 深刻反省 (profound reflection). Be cautious with tone as '反' is the third tone and '省' is also the third tone, which can lead to confusion if not pronounced accurately.

HSK Study Tips

反省 is not currently an HSK vocabulary word but is relevant for HSK 5 learners who are exploring more complex concepts of self-awareness and moral judgment. Students should focus on its application in sentences and common phrases associated with introspection.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 反省 with 反对 (fǎn duì, to oppose). A common mistake is saying '我反对我的错误' (I oppose my mistakes) instead of '我需要反省我的错误' (I need to reflect on my mistakes).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 反省

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 反省, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 反省 to you

Let me explain 反省 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 反省 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 反省?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 反省 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

反fǎncontrary
HSK 54 strokes又
View full entry
省shěngintrospection
HSK 49 strokes目
View full entry

How to say to reflect upon oneself in Chinese

“to reflect upon oneself” in Chinese is反省fǎnxǐng

反省 (fǎn xǐng) means to reflect upon oneself, often in the context of examining one's conscience or actions. It is commonly used when discussing personal growth, moral introspection, or evaluating decisions. This term emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and accountability in personal development.

When to use 反省

反省 is typically used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about ethics or personal development. Common collocations include 进行反省 (to carry out self-reflection) and 深刻反省 (profound reflection). Be cautious with tone as '反' is the third tone and '省' is also the third tone, which can lead to confusion if not pronounced accurately.

反省 or something close to it

自省 (zìxǐng) vs 反思 (fǎnsī) — use 反省 when focusing on moral or ethical reflection, while 自省 emphasizes self-examination for personal improvement, and 反思 often refers to reviewing past events or decisions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 反省 with 反对 (fǎn duì, to oppose). A common mistake is saying '我反对我的错误' (I oppose my mistakes) instead of '我需要反省我的错误' (I need to reflect on my mistakes).

Write 反省

反
省

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 反省?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Cultural Notes for 反省

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, self-reflection is often associated with therapy and personal growth, whereas in Chinese culture, it is deeply rooted in moral philosophy and communal responsibility.

Frequently asked questions about 反省

You can say: 我需要反省我的行为 (I need to reflect on my actions).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 反省?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab