Comparing “fǎnfù” and “chóngfù”
反复 vs 重复
Comparison section · original #43 · level order #136
How it works
Both 反复 (fǎnfù) and 重复 (chóngfù) involve repetition, but they differ in focus and tone.
重复 (chóngfù) means to repeat. It is the neutral and general word for doing or saying the same thing again.
反复 (fǎnfù) means again and again, often with the sense of repeated return, repeated process, or repeated change. It can describe repeated action, repeated thinking, or something happening back and forth.
So the basic difference is:
重复 (chóngfù) = repeat the same thing again
反复 (fǎnfù) = repeatedly, often many times or back and forth
Example sentences
这个句子太长了，请你再重复一遍。
This sentence is too long. Please repeat it once more.
老师强调过很多次的问题，他居然还是在考试里重复犯错。
He still made the same mistakes repeatedly in the exam, even though the teacher had stressed them many times.
关于这个决定，我们已经反复讨论了很久。
We have discussed this decision over and over for a long time.
他的病情这几天一直反复，时好时坏。
His condition has kept fluctuating these past few days, sometimes better and sometimes worse.
Key point
重复 (chóngfù) often focuses on repeating the same content. 反复 (fǎnfù) often emphasizes repeated process, repeated occurrence, or back-and-forth change.