逆 (nì): contrary, opposite, backwards
逆 (nì) is a Chinese character meaning “contrary.” Classified as HSK Level 7-9 (HSK 3.0 Standard, CLEC 2022), it is composed of 辶 (structural) and 屰 (structural). It ranks #1948 in character frequency (SUBTLEX-CH corpus).
Etymologically derived, 逆 a disobedient 屰 person 辶; 屰 also provides the pronunciation. Its radical form 辶 (walk) appears in many related characters such as 边 (biān, side), 过 (guò, to pass, past), 还 (hái, still, return).
Definitions
- contrary
- opposite
- backwards
Etymology & Origin
ideographicA disobedient 屰 person 辶; 屰 also provides the pronunciation
Decomposition: ⿺辶屰 (layout: surround-from-lower-left)
Stroke Order
Practice writing 逆 with real-time feedback — trace each stroke in the correct order and build muscle memory in the HanziFeed app.
Words & Compounds
Common Compounds
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 叛逆verb | pàn nì | to rebel |
| 逆转verb | nì zhuǎn | to turn back |
| 逆境noun | nì jìng | adversity |
| 逆向verb | nì xiàng | backwards |
| 逆流verb | nì liú | against the stream |
| 逆行verb | nì xíng | to go the wrong way |
| 逆来顺受phrase | nì lái shùn shòu | to resign oneself to adversity (idiom) |
| 不可逆转 | bù kě nì zhuǎn | irreversible |
| 可逆adjective | kě nì | reversible |
| 逆反心理 | nì fǎn xīn lǐ | reverse psychology |
| 逆时针adjective | nì shí zhēn | anticlockwise |
| 逆风verb | nì fēng | to go against the wind |
| 逆耳verb | nì ěr | unpleasant to hear |
| 大逆不道phrase | dà nì bù dào | disgraceful (of behavior that is unfilial, rebellious or otherwise in grave breach of the norms of society) |
| 逆光verb | nì guāng | backlighting |
逆 appears in 81 compound words: 65 as the first character, 20 as the last, and 15 in a middle position. Compound statistics computed from SUBTLEX-CH and HSK 3.0 vocabulary data.
Strongest Collocations
Characters that most frequently co-occur with 逆 in natural Chinese text, ranked by NPMI (Normalized Pointwise Mutual Information) — a statistical measure of association strength.
Idioms & Chengyu (11)
to do things in a perverse way; to go against good; to commit evil deeds
speech that grates on the ear (idiom); bitter truths; home truths (that one does not want to hear)
to meekly submit to oppression, maltreatment, etc.; to resign oneself to adversity
to diligently engage in one's studies (like a boat going against the currents); to go against the tide
to go against the tide (idiom); to do things all wrong; to try to turn back history; a perverse way of doing things
to do things in a perverse way; to go against good; to commit evil deeds
speech that grates on the ear (idiom); bitter truths; home truths (that one does not want to hear)
to meekly submit to oppression, maltreatment, etc.; to resign oneself to adversity
to diligently engage in one's studies (like a boat going against the currents); to go against the tide
to go against the tide (idiom); to do things all wrong; to try to turn back history; a perverse way of doing things
Example Sentences
这个逆字的意思与它的部首有关。
zhè gě nì zì de yì sī yú tā de bù shǒu yǒu guān .
The meaning of the character "逆" is related to its radical.
...想要进去了又很快软了能治好吗?多数情况可逆对吗
. . . xiǎng yāo jìn qù le yòu hěn kuài ruǎn le néng zhì hǎo ma ? duō shǔ qíng kuàng kě nì duì ma
... If you want to go in, it will soon become soft, can it be cured? Most of the cases are reversible, right?
...大赢家!港美股陷低迷见红 靠“呢个玩法”逆市保平安兼稳赚
. . . dà yíng jiā ! gǎng měi gǔ xiàn dī mí jiàn hóng kào ne gè wán fǎ nì shì bǎo píng ān jiān wěn zhuàn
... Big winner! Hong Kong and U.S. stocks are in a downturn and are in the red, relying on "this way of playing" to go against the market to ensure safety and make steady profits
2026第一波水逆来了!12星座本周运势出炉
2 0 2 6 dì yī bō shuǐ nì lái le ! 1 2 xīng zuò běn zhōu yùn shì chū lú
The first wave of water retrograde in 2026 is coming! The 12 zodiac signs are released this week
最惨开工日!今年首波水逆来了 命理师示警:恐爆职场巨变
zuì cǎn kāi gōng rì ! jīn nián shǒu bō shuǐ nì lái le mìng lǐ shī shì jǐng : kǒng bào zhí chǎng jù biàn
The worst start day! The first wave of water retrograde this year is coming, and numerologists warn: I am afraid of great changes in the workplace
比特币还能买?《富爸爸.穷爸爸》作者逆风加码 两大进场原因曝光
bǐ tè bì hái néng mǎi ? fù bà bà . qióng bà bà zuò zhě nì fēng jiā mǎ liǎng dà jìn chǎng yuán yīn pù guāng
Can Bitcoin still be bought? "Rich Dad. The author of "Poor Dad" has increased against the wind, and the two major reasons for entering the venue have been exposed
逆境顺境看襟度，临喜临怒看涵养。
Nìjìng shùnjìng kàn jīndù, lín xǐ lín nù kàn hányǎng.
Adversity and prosperity reveal one's breadth of mind; joy and anger test one's self-restraint.
非方矩阵的逆阵是一个危险的东西。
Fēi fāng jǔzhèn de nì zhèn shì yī gè wēixiǎn de dōngxi.
The inverse of a non-square matrix is a dangerous thing.
我们在河里划着船逆流而上。
Wǒmen zài hé lǐ huà zhe chuán nìliú'érshàng.
We rowed up the river against the current.
我们必须学会优雅地面对逆境。
Wǒmen bìxū xuéhuì yōuyǎ de miànduì nìjìng.
We must learn to meet adversity gracefully.
Character Family
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 逆 (nì) mean in Chinese?
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What are the components of 逆?
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What characters sound the same as 逆 (nì)?
Is 逆 the same in simplified and traditional Chinese?
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