In Chinese culture, which often prioritizes social harmony (和谐, héxié) and avoiding direct conflict, expressing negative emotions requires care. 反感 (fǎngǎn) plays a unique role here. It's often an internal feeling that one might not express outwardly, or if they do, it's usually in a more controlled or indirect way. A useful comparison is to the American cultural tendency to be more direct. An American might say, “I really don't like his attitude, it's so arrogant.” While a Chinese person might feel the same `反感`, they might be less likely to voice it directly to the person's face. Instead, they might show it through subtle cues—avoidance, quietness, reserved body language—or only express their `反感` to a trusted friend later. Therefore, understanding `反感` is not just about knowing the definition, but also about recognizing that it's a powerful feeling that is often managed carefully to maintain “face” (面子, miànzi) and preserve group harmony. Voicing it is a significant act that signals a strong level of disapproval.
`反感` is a common word in both spoken and written Chinese. It can function as a verb (“I dislike his behavior”) or a noun (“my aversion to his behavior”). A very common grammatical structure is 对 + [Object] + (感到/产生) + 反感 (duì + [Object] + (gǎndào/chǎnshēng) + fǎngǎn), which means “to feel/develop an aversion towards [Object].”