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逆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
逆
nì
contrary
HSK 7, vg, 9 strokes, radical 辶, rank #11672, Very Hard
逆
nì
opposite
HSK 7, vg, 9 strokes, radical 辶, rank #11672, Very Hard
逆
nì
backwards
HSK 7, vg, 9 strokes, radical 辶, rank #11672, Very Hard
逆
nì
to go against
HSK 7, vg, 9 strokes, radical 辶, rank #11672, Very Hard
逆
nì
to oppose
HSK 7, vg, 9 strokes, radical 辶, rank #11672, Very Hard
逆
nì
to betray
HSK 7, vg, 9 strokes, radical 辶, rank #11672, Very Hard
逆
nì
to rebel
HSK 7, vg, 9 strokes, radical 辶, rank #11672, Very Hard
逆
nì
to disobey, to rebel; traitor, rebel
HSK 7, vg, 9 strokes, radical 辶, rank #11672, Very Hard
nì(ni4)ni T4
1contrary
2opposite
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March 24, 2026
逆nì(ni4)
The character 逆 (nì) conveys the idea of going against or opposing something. It is commonly used in contexts where one is in conflict with established norms or directions, such as in phrases indicating rebellion or disobedience. It can also imply a betrayal of trust or loyalty.
Strokes9Radical辶Frequency#11672DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of rebellion (逆) can be seen in historical contexts such as the many uprisings against dynasties, where individuals or groups opposed the ruling authority. This historical backdrop adds depth to the understanding of the term.
Memory tip
Imagine a person standing at a fork in the road, choosing the path that goes 'against' the flow of traffic. The character 逆 looks like an arrow pointing backwards, symbolizing the idea of going in the opposite direction.
Meanings of 逆
nì(ni4)
1contrary
2opposite
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 逆 means.
About 逆
逆Simplified
9Strokes
辶Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#11672Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 逆
Podcast: 逆
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AI study notes for 逆
Quick Contrast
逆 (nì) vs 反 (fǎn) — use 逆 when emphasizing opposition to norms or directions; use 反 for a more general sense of reversal or contrary action.
Usage Notes
When using 逆, it is often paired with other words to express more complex ideas, such as 逆境 (nìjìng, adversity) or 逆反 (nìfǎn, rebellion). Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like '你' (nǐ, you), as this can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 逆 is not listed in the official HSK levels, it connects well with other words expressing contrast or opposition, such as 反 (fǎn, to oppose). Focus on practicing collocations to grasp its nuances.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 逆 with 逆转 (nìzhuǎn, reversal) and mistakenly use it in contexts that imply simply changing direction rather than opposing. For example, saying '我想逆我的决定' (wǒ xiǎng nì wǒ de juédìng) incorrectly suggests you want to oppose your decision, instead of saying '我想改变我的决定' (wǒ xiǎng gǎibiàn wǒ de juédìng) for 'I want to change my decision.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 逆
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The character 逆 (nì) conveys the idea of going against or opposing something. It is commonly used in contexts where one is in conflict with established norms or directions, such as in phrases indicating rebellion or disobedience. It can also imply a betrayal of trust or loyalty.
When to use 逆
When using 逆, it is often paired with other words to express more complex ideas, such as 逆境 (nìjìng, adversity) or 逆反 (nìfǎn, rebellion). Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like '你' (nǐ, you), as this can lead to misunderstandings.
逆 or something close to it
逆 (nì) vs 反 (fǎn) — use 逆 when emphasizing opposition to norms or directions; use 反 for a more general sense of reversal or contrary action.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 逆 with 逆转 (nìzhuǎn, reversal) and mistakenly use it in contexts that imply simply changing direction rather than opposing. For example, saying '我想逆我的决定' (wǒ xiǎng nì wǒ de juédìng) incorrectly suggests you want to oppose your decision, instead of saying '我想改变我的决定' (wǒ xiǎng gǎibiàn wǒ de juédìng) for 'I want to change my decision.'
Write 逆
逆
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Practice writing 逆 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 逆
逆 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 8 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
南非正在经历一场不可____转的变革。
South Africa was going through a period of irreversible change.
Example sentences for 逆 (10)
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1
南非正在经历一场不可逆转的变革。
nán fēi zhèngzài jīnglì yī chǎng bùkěnìzhuǎn de biàngé。
South Africa was going through a period of irreversible change.
2
由于存在着危险的下层逆流，在大部分海岸线附近游泳都不安全。
yóuyú cúnzài zhe wēixiǎn de xià céng nì liú， zài dàbùfen hǎi’àn xiàn fùjìn yóuyǒng dōu bù’ān quán。
Dangerous undertows make swimming unsafe along most of the coastline.
3
他在2比4落后的情况下实现逆转闯进1/4决赛。
tā zài2 bǐ4 luòhòu de qíngkuàng xià shíxiàn nì zhuǎi chuǎng jìn1/4 juésài。
He recovered from a 4-2 deficit to reach the quarter-finals.
4
当老恩萧发现他的儿子这样虐待他所谓的可怜的孤儿时, 这种逆来顺受使老恩萧冒火了.
dāng lǎo ēn xiāo fāxiàn tā de érzi zhèyàng nüèdài tā suǒwèi de kělián de gū’ér shí, zhè zhǒng nì lái shùn shòu shǐ lǎo ēn xiāo mào huǒ le.
This endurance made old Earnshaw furious, when he discovered his son persecuting the poor, fatherless child, as he called
5
我们上次旅行时曾经沿着海岸，逆着风浪向东曲折航行。
wǒmen shàngcì lǚxíng shí céngjīng yánzhe hǎi’àn， nì zhe fēnglàng xiàng dōng qūzhé hángxíng。
Our last trip involved a coastal passage, tacking east against wind and current.
6
如果轮子是逆时针方向旋转, 其角动量矢量的方向朝东.
rúguǒ lúnzi shì nì shí zhēn fāngxiàng xuánzhuǎn, qí jiǎo dòng liáng shǐ liáng de fāngxiàng cháo dōng.
If the wheel is rotating counterclockwise, its angular - momentum vector is directed eastward.
7
当其他报纸的发行量越来越少时，我们却逆势而进。
dāng qítā bàozhǐ de fāxíng liáng yuèláiyuè shǎo shí， wǒmen què nì shì ér jìn。
While other newspapers are losing circulation, we are bucking the trend.
