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B2 noun 10 min read

反响

fǎnxiǎng
Examples 反响 in 30 Seconds
Explanation 反响 in your Level:
At the A1 level, '反响' (fǎnxiǎng) is a bit advanced, but you can think of it simply as 'what people think about something' after it happens. Imagine you tell a joke. If everyone laughs, that is a 'good response'. In Chinese, when many people talk about a movie or a song, we use this word to describe that big 'echo' of talk. It is a noun. You usually see it with '很' (very) like '反响很大' (the response was very big). At this stage, focus on the idea that it means 'public reaction'. You might not use it yourself yet, but you will see it in simple news titles about famous people or movies.
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At the A2 level, you can start to understand '反响' as a formal way to say 'reaction' or 'feedback' from a group of people. While you use '反应' (fǎnyìng) for a quick reaction (like catching a ball), you use '反响' when you want to talk about how a group of people liked a new thing. For example, if your school starts a new rule and all the students are talking about it, that is the '反响'. You will often see the phrase '引起反响' (yǐnqǐ fǎnxiǎng), which means 'to cause a response'. Try to remember it as 'social feedback'. It helps you describe things like movies, books, or events that many people have an opinion on.
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At the B1 level, '反响' becomes a useful tool for discussing social topics and media. You should distinguish it from '反馈' (fǎnkuì), which is direct feedback like a survey. '反响' is the broader 'stir' or 'resonance' something creates. When you describe a successful event, you can say '反响热烈' (the response was enthusiastic). This shows you understand that the event didn't just happen, but it 'echoed' through the audience. You should also notice that it's often used in the passive sense—something 'causes' an echo. It is an excellent word for your writing tasks when you need to evaluate the success of an activity or a project in a more formal tone.
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At the B2 level, you are expected to use '反响' with precision. It is a key word for analyzing repercussions and public sentiment. You should be able to use various adjectives to modify it, such as '广泛' (widespread), '强烈' (strong), or '平平' (mediocre). You understand that '反响' implies a collective response and is often used in journalism, business reports, and cultural criticism. You can distinguish it clearly from '反应' (immediate/individual) and '响应' (compliance/answering a call). In your speech, using '引起了社会各界的强烈反响' (caused a strong response from all walks of life) demonstrates a high level of formal vocabulary and a grasp of Chinese social commentary.
At the C1 level, you recognize '反响' as a nuanced term for 'resonance' and 'repercussion' in complex discourses. You can use it to discuss the long-term impact of historical events or the subtle shifts in public opinion. You are comfortable using it in abstract contexts, such as the 'intellectual repercussions' (学术反响) of a new theory. You understand the literary roots of the word—how it evokes the image of a sound echoing back—and can use this to add color to your writing. You also know how to contrast it with synonyms like '回响' (more poetic/nostalgic) or '效应' (more scientific/result-oriented) to convey exact meanings in professional or academic settings.
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At the C2 level, '反响' is a word you use to navigate the intricacies of public relations, political analysis, and high-level cultural critique. You understand its strategic use in media to frame the 'voice of the people' or 'international sentiment'. You can analyze how '反响' is shaped by media gatekeepers and how it differs from '舆论' (public opinion) as a more event-specific phenomenon. Your usage is flawless, incorporating it into complex sentence structures that analyze cause and effect within a societal framework. You can also appreciate and use the word in its rare literal senses in acoustic or architectural discussions, though you primarily use its rich metaphorical power to describe the 'reverberations' of power and culture.
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Examples

反响 in 30 Seconds

  • A formal noun meaning public response, repercussion, or resonance caused by an event, work, or policy.
  • Commonly paired with '引起' (cause) or '产生' (produce) to describe how a group reacts to something.
  • Differs from '反应' (immediate/individual) by focusing on collective, social, or lasting impacts.
  • Used frequently in news, criticism, and professional reports to evaluate the 'echo' of an action.

The Chinese word 反响 (fǎnxiǎng) is a sophisticated noun that bridges the gap between physical acoustics and social dynamics. At its core, the characters represent 'reverse' (反) and 'sound/echo' (响). While it can technically refer to a physical echo in a literal sense, its modern usage is almost exclusively figurative, denoting the repercussions, reaction, or public response generated by an event, a work of art, a policy, or a speech. Imagine dropping a heavy stone into a still pond; the ripples that travel outward and hit the banks represent the 反响. It is not just the initial splash (which would be 反应 - reaction), but the sustained resonance and the way the environment 'answers' the action.

Social Resonance
In social contexts, this word describes how a community or the public at large perceives and discusses a particular occurrence. If a celebrity makes a controversial statement, the resulting media storm and public debate are the '反响'.
Artistic Feedback
When a new film or book is released, critics and the audience provide '反响'. If the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, we say the '反响热烈' (the response is enthusiastic/heated).

这部电影在国际上引起了巨大的反响。 (This movie caused a huge repercussion/response internationally.)

Understanding the weight of this word is crucial for B2 learners. It implies a certain scale. You wouldn't usually use 反响 for a small, private interaction between two people. Instead, it suggests a collective or public scale. It is the 'echo' that returns from the world after you have put something into it. In professional settings, managers look for the 反响 of a new corporate strategy among employees to gauge its success and sustainability.

政府的新政策在民间引起了强烈的反响。 (The government's new policy caused a strong reaction among the people.)

Furthermore, 反响 is frequently paired with the verb 引起 (yǐnqǐ - to cause/give rise to). This combination is a staple of news reporting and formal writing. When you read a Chinese newspaper, you will often see reports on how a new law or a scientific discovery '引起了广泛的反响' (caused widespread repercussions). This highlights the word's role in describing the impact of significant events on the collective psyche.

他的演讲在学生中产生了良好的反响。 (His speech produced a good response among the students.)

Scale and Intensity
The word is often modified by adjectives of scale: 巨大 (huge), 强烈 (strong), 广泛 (widespread), or 平平 (mediocre/flat). This allows speakers to quantify the 'volume' of the social echo.

新书出版后，市场反响平平。 (After the new book was published, the market response was mediocre.)

In summary, use 反响 when you want to discuss the broader impact, feedback, or resonance of an action within a group or society. It is a powerful word for analyzing consequences and public opinion, moving beyond simple 'likes' or 'dislikes' to describe the overall vibration caused by an event.

Mastering 反响 involves understanding its role as a noun that typically functions as the object of a verb or the subject of a descriptive clause. Because it describes a collective response, it is rarely used in isolation without some form of qualitative modifier. To use it effectively, you must learn the specific 'power verbs' that activate it in a sentence.

Common Verb Pairings
The most common verb is 引起 (yǐnqǐ), meaning 'to cause' or 'to trigger'. You can also use 产生 (chǎnshēng), meaning 'to produce' or 'to generate'. For example, '引起反响' is the standard way to say 'to create a stir' or 'to trigger a reaction'.

这次会议在学术界引起了强烈的反响。 (This conference triggered a strong response in academic circles.)

When describing the quality of the response, 反响 often acts as the subject. For instance, if you say '反响很大', you are literally saying 'the repercussion is very big'. This structure is common in both spoken and written Chinese to provide a quick evaluation of an event's impact.

由于宣传不足，这部剧的社会反响并不理想。 (Due to insufficient promotion, the social response to this drama was not ideal.)

Another sophisticated way to use 反响 is in the structure '引起...的反响'. This allows you to specify who is responding. By placing the target group between '引起' and '的反响', you create a precise description of the impact zone. For example, '引起了读者的热烈反响' (triggered an enthusiastic response from readers).

这项技术革新在工业界引起了不小的反响。 (This technological innovation caused a significant stir in the industrial world.)

Negative or Neutral Responses
If an event failed to impress or was ignored, we use '反响平平' (the response was flat/average) or '没有引起什么反响' (didn't cause much of a response). This is a polite way of saying something was a 'flop' or 'ignored'.

尽管投入巨大，但市场反响却微乎其微。 (Despite the huge investment, the market response was negligible.)

Finally, consider the register. 反响 is a formal word. In casual conversation, you might just say '大家怎么看' (what does everyone think?) or '反应怎么样' (how was the reaction?). Using 反响 elevates your speech, making it sound more analytical and professional. It is the difference between saying 'people liked it' and 'it resonated deeply with the audience'.

这篇社论在社会各界引起了强烈的正面反响。 (This editorial triggered a strong positive response from all sectors of society.)

If you are consuming Chinese media, you will encounter 反响 in several specific high-frequency domains. Understanding these contexts will help you recognize the word's 'natural habitat'.

1. News and Political Discourse
Journalists use '反响' to summarize public sentiment regarding new legislation, international treaties, or government speeches. It is the standard term for 'public feedback' in a formal report. You will hear phrases like '引起国际社会的强烈反响' (caused a strong reaction from the international community) during CCTV news broadcasts.

该法案的通过在选民中引起了不同层面的反响。 (The passing of the bill caused various levels of response among voters.)

2. Entertainment and Cultural Reviews: In the world of movies, music, and literature, 反响 is the go-to word for critical and commercial reception. When a blockbuster movie premieres, the '首映反响' (premiere response) is a key metric of its potential success. Critics will write about whether a work '引起了观众的共鸣' (resonated with the audience) and thus produced a '良好的反响'.

这位歌手的新专辑在乐评人中反响极佳。 (The singer's new album had an excellent response among music critics.)

3. Academic and Scientific Circles: When a groundbreaking study is published, researchers discuss its 反响 within the field. This refers to how other scientists are citing the work, debating its findings, or building upon its conclusions. It represents the 'intellectual echo' of a discovery.

这项研究成果在生物学界引起了持久的反响。 (This research achievement caused a lasting repercussion in the field of biology.)

4. Business and Marketing
Marketing professionals track the '市场反响' (market response) of new products. This isn't just sales data; it's the brand sentiment, the word-of-mouth, and the overall 'vibe' the product creates in the marketplace.

新产品上市后的反响超出了我们的预期。 (The response after the new product hit the market exceeded our expectations.)

5. Public Speaking and Education: Teachers and public speakers evaluate their performance based on the 反响 of their audience. If a teacher explains a concept well, the '课堂反响' (classroom response) is active participation and clear understanding. If a speech is boring, the '反响' will be '冷淡' (cold/indifferent).

教授的讲座在听众中引起了热烈的反响。 (The professor's lecture triggered an enthusiastic response among the listeners.)

For English speakers learning Chinese, 反响 can be tricky because it overlaps with several other words related to 'reaction' or 'response'. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your Chinese sound more natural and precise.

Mistake 1: Confusing 反响 (fǎnxiǎng) with 反应 (fǎnyìng)
This is the most frequent error. 反应 (fǎnyìng) refers to an immediate, often biological or mechanical reaction (like a reflex or a chemical reaction). 反响 (fǎnxiǎng) refers to a broad, social, or public repercussion. You '反应' to a loud noise by jumping, but a new law '引起反响' in society.

Incorrect: 他的话引起了大家的反应。 (While grammatically possible, it sounds like people physically twitched. Use 反响 for social resonance.)

Mistake 2: Using it for personal feelings: You shouldn't use 反响 to describe your own personal reaction to something in a private setting. If your friend gives you a gift, you don't have a '反响'; you have a '反应' or a '感受' (feeling). 反响 is reserved for group or public contexts.

Incorrect: 我对这个礼物的反响很好。 (Use '我很喜欢' or '我的反应' instead.)

Mistake 3: Confusing with 响应 (xiǎngyìng): While they share the character '响', 响应 means 'to respond to a call' or 'to comply with a request'. It is an active verb of following an order or participating in a movement. 反响 is the resulting 'echo' or feedback of that action.

Note the difference: 大家积极响应政府的号召 (Everyone actively responded/complied with the government's call). 这一举措引起了强烈的反响 (This move caused a strong repercussion).

Mistake 4: Overusing it in casual speech
Because '反响' is quite formal, using it in a very casual setting (like asking how your mom liked the soup) sounds stiff and overly dramatic. Stick to '觉得怎么样' (how do you feel about it) for daily life.

Mistake 5: Incorrect Verb Collocation: Learners sometimes try to use '做' (do) or '给' (give) with 反响. In Chinese, repercussion is not 'done' or 'given'; it is 'caused' (引起) or 'produced' (产生). Remembering this specific verb-noun pairing is the key to sounding like a native speaker.

Correct: 引起反响 / 产生反响. Incorrect: 做反响 / 给反响.

To truly master 反响, you need to see where it fits in the family of 'response' words. Each has a specific nuance that makes it suitable for different situations.

反响 (fǎnxiǎng) vs. 反应 (fǎnyìng)
As discussed, 反应 is immediate and often individual/physical. 反响 is broad and social. If you touch a hot stove, your '反应' is to pull your hand away. If a chef creates a controversial new dish, the '反响' is the debate it sparks in the culinary world.
反响 (fǎnxiǎng) vs. 响应 (xiǎngyìng)
响应 is 'responding to a call' (like a call to action). It implies cooperation and following. 反响 is just the feedback or echo, which could be positive, negative, or indifferent. You '响应' a charity drive; the '反响' to the drive is how much money was raised and what people said about it.

Example: 他的提议得到了大家的响应 (His proposal was supported/acted upon by everyone). 他的提议引起了巨大的反响 (His proposal caused a huge stir/discussion).

Other alternatives include:

  • 回响 (huíxiǎng): This is closer to the literal 'echo'. It is often used in a more poetic or literary sense to describe memories or the 'echoes' of history. While 反响 is social/analytical, 回响 is emotional/aesthetic.
  • 反馈 (fǎnkuì): This is the modern word for 'feedback', especially in technical, business, or educational settings. It is more functional and direct. You ask for '反馈' on a project to improve it. 反响 is more about the 'splash' something makes.
  • 效果 (xiàoguǒ): This means 'effect' or 'result'. It focuses on the outcome. If a speech had a 'good 效果', it means it achieved its goal. If it had a 'good 反响', it means people were talking about it and reacting to it.

In professional writing, choosing between these words shows your level of fluency. Using 反响 when discussing a public event suggests that you are considering the broader social implications rather than just the immediate results. It adds a layer of depth to your analysis of how information and actions travel through a community.

这部作品在读者中产生了深远的反响。 (This work produced a profound repercussion among readers.)

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Examples by Level

1

这个电影的反响很大。

This movie's response is very big.

Subject + 反响 + Adjective (很 + 大).

2

大家对他的歌反响很好。

Everyone's response to his song is very good.

Topic-comment structure.

3

新书的反响怎么样？

How is the response to the new book?

Question form using 怎么样.

4

反响不太好。

The response is not too good.

Negative modifier 不太.

5

这个活动有反响吗？

Does this activity have any response?

Simple question with 吗.

6

他的话引起了反响。

His words caused a response.

Verb (引起) + Object (反响).

7

老师的课反响不错。

The teacher's class has a pretty good response.

Noun phrase as subject.

8

那个笑话反响一般。

That joke's response was just so-so.

一般 as a predicate adjective.

1

那首新歌在学生中引起了很大的反响。

That new song caused a big response among students.

Prepositional phrase '在...中' (among...).

2

这个消息引起了强烈的反响。

This news caused a strong response.

Strong adjective 强烈.

3

他的演讲反响很热烈。

His speech's response was very enthusiastic.

热烈 (enthusiastic) is a common collocation.

4

公司的新产品反响平平。

The company's new product response was flat.

平平 (flat/mediocre) describes a lack of impact.

5

这次比赛在社会上引起了反响。

This competition caused a response in society.

'在社会上' (in society).

6

由于没有宣传，反响并不大。

Because there was no promotion, the response wasn't big.

Using '由于' (due to) for cause.

7

我们想看看市场的反响。

We want to see the market's response.

Market response (市场反响) is a fixed term.

8

他的建议引起了不小的反响。

His suggestion caused quite a stir.

Double negative '不小' (not small) means significant.

1

这部纪录片在观众中引起了广泛的反响。

This documentary caused widespread repercussions among the audience.

广泛 (widespread) for broad impact.

2

市长的讲话在市民中产生了积极的反响。

The mayor's speech produced a positive response among citizens.

产生 (produce) instead of 引起.

3

这篇文章发表后，反响超出了预期。

After this article was published, the response exceeded expectations.

超出预期 (exceed expectations).

4

新政策在基层引起了巨大的反响。

The new policy caused a huge repercussion at the grassroots level.

基层 (grassroots/base level).

5

虽然是个小发现，但在科学界反响很大。

Although it was a small discovery, it had a big response in the scientific world.

Contrast using 虽然...但是.

6

他的行为在网上引起了负面的反响。

His behavior caused a negative response online.

负面 (negative) as a modifier.

7

我们要根据反响来调整计划。

We need to adjust the plan based on the response.

根据 (based on).

8

这部剧的反响比第一季还要好。

This drama's response is even better than the first season.

Comparison using 比.

1

这项科研成果在国际学术界引起了强烈的反响。

This scientific achievement caused a strong repercussion in the international academic community.

Formal academic context.

2

他的公开道歉并没有引起预期的反响。

His public apology did not cause the expected response.

Negative result of a purposeful action.

3

这种艺术风格在年轻人中引起了共鸣和反响。

This artistic style caused resonance and repercussions among young people.

Pairing 共鸣 (resonance) with 反响.

4

该公司的裁员计划引起了员工的激烈反响。

The company's layoff plan caused a fierce reaction from employees.

激烈 (fierce/intense) for high-tension situations.

5

他的第一部长篇小说就引起了文坛的关注和反响。

His first novel immediately caught the attention and response of the literary world.

文坛 (literary world).

6

政府必须重视这项政策带来的社会反响。

The government must value the social repercussions brought by this policy.

重视 (to value/pay attention to).

7

这次展览在艺术爱好者中反响极佳。

This exhibition had an excellent response among art lovers.

极佳 (extremely good) as a formal predicate.

8

他那番话的社会反响是大家始料未及的。

The social repercussion of his remarks was unexpected by everyone.

始料未及 (unexpected/unforeseen).

1

这篇社论在政界引起了持久而深远的反响。

This editorial caused a lasting and profound repercussion in political circles.

持久 (lasting) and 深远 (profound).

2

由于触及了敏感的社会痛点，该节目反响空前。

Because it touched on sensitive social pain points, the show's response was unprecedented.

空前 (unprecedented) and 痛点 (pain points).

3

不仅在民间，该举措在法律界也引起了广泛的讨论与反响。

Not only among the people but also in the legal world, the move caused widespread discussion and repercussions.

不仅...也... (not only... but also...).

4

他的这一理论在哲学界引起了巨大的反响，甚至引发了范式的转变。

This theory of his caused a huge repercussion in philosophy, even triggering a paradigm shift.

范式转变 (paradigm shift).

5

尽管媒体大肆宣传，但大众的反响却异常冷淡。

Despite the media hype, the public response was unusually cold.

大肆宣传 (hype/wanton publicity) and 冷淡 (cold).

6

该丑闻的国际反响严重损害了国家的形象。

The international repercussions of the scandal seriously damaged the country's image.

损害 (damage/harm).

7

他的作品在异国他乡也引起了意想不到的反响。

His work also caused an unexpected response in a foreign land.

异国他乡 (foreign land).

8

我们需要深入分析这些不同声音背后的社会反响。

We need to deeply analyze the social repercussions behind these different voices.

深入分析 (deep analysis).

1

其作品中蕴含的人文关怀在当代社会引起了某种跨越阶层的反响。

The humanistic concern contained in his work caused a kind of cross-class resonance in contemporary society.

蕴含 (contain/embody) and 跨越阶层 (cross-class).

2

这一发现的科学反响之大，足以动摇现有的物理学根基。

The scientific repercussion of this discovery is so great that it is enough to shake the existing foundations of physics.

之大 (so great that...) and 动摇根基 (shake foundations).

3

该文在思想界激起的反响，至今仍未平息。

The repercussions stirred up by this article in the intellectual world have not subsided to this day.

激起 (stir up) and 平息 (subside).

4

通过对历史反响的回溯，我们可以窥见那个时代的精神风貌。

By tracing back historical repercussions, we can catch a glimpse of the spirit of that era.

回溯 (trace back) and 精神风貌 (spirit/outlook).

5

这种审美取向在受众中引起的反响具有某种必然性。

The response triggered by this aesthetic orientation among the audience has a certain inevitability.

审美取向 (aesthetic orientation) and 必然性 (inevitability).

6

政策的制定者往往需要预判可能产生的负面反响并制定对策。

Policy makers often need to anticipate possible negative repercussions and formulate countermeasures.

预判 (anticipate/predict) and 对策 (countermeasures).

7

该事件的全球反响折射出当下地缘政治的复杂格局。

The global repercussions of the event reflect the complex pattern of current geopolitics.

折射 (reflect/refract) and 地缘政治 (geopolitics).

8

他在自传中对那段往事的反响进行了深刻的反思。

In his autobiography, he conducted a profound reflection on the repercussions of that past event.

深刻的反思 (profound reflection).

Common Collocations

引起反响
反响热烈
社会反响
市场反响
国际反响
反响平平
产生反响
强烈的反响
广泛的反响
良好的反响
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