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反正

anyway; in any case; whatever happens

Structure
(不管/无论…) , 反正 结论/理由

What it means

'Anyway; in any case': the conclusion holds whatever the circumstances, or a reason settles the matter.

How it is built

(不管/无论…),反正 + conclusion or reason: 不管你们怎么说,反正我不去 (whatever you say, I am not going).

When to use it

Spoken, with an unbothered or slightly stubborn ring. It can go before or after the subject: 反正我不去 = 我反正不去. As a settling reason: 反正时间还早, so there is no hurry.

Watch out

Don't mix it up with 反而, 'on the contrary': ✗他没生气,反正笑了。 ✓他没生气,反而笑了。

Examples

反正我写字是为了锻炼身体,又不是写给别人看的。
I write for the exercise anyway. It’s not as if it’s for anyone else to read.
别着急,反正时间还早,我们慢慢走。
No rush; it is early anyway, so let’s take our time.
不管你们怎么说,反正我不去。
Whatever you say, I am not going.
Learn this in Lesson 13 · HSK 5: 公园里的中国 (A morning in a Chinese park)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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