<p>Some are <strong>different meaning words</strong> (不同義詞) created by switching two characters' order</p>
<p>Examples:</p>
<p>牙刷 (n): toothbrush</p>
<p>刷(v)牙(n): brush teeth (刷 and 牙 are two words [v + n])</p>
<p>人工(adj): artificial</p>
<p>工人(n): worker</p>
<p>中心(n): center</p>
<p>心(n)中(preposition): in the heart</p>
<p>Some are <strong>reversible compound words</strong> (可逆复合词). In most cases, the two characters in reversible compound words share similar meanings</p>
<p>Examples:</p>
<p>合适 = 适合 = suitable</p>
<p>愛情 = 情愛 = love</p>
<p>浸沈 = 沈浸 = immerse</p>
<p>鬥爭 = 爭鬥 = struggle; fight</p>
<p>連結 = 結連 = connect; link</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-10T03:28:02.443Z
Is there a specific Chinese term used to refer a pair of such words?
Brian J Murray
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-10T03:32:06.787Z
unrelated words = 不相关词;  reversible compound words = 可逆复合词
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-15T00:54:22.333Z
蜜蜂 mìfēng (honeybee) and 蜂蜜 fēngmì (honey) come to mind as well
Trevor Kafka
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-15T01:00:53.593Z
Saying 蜜蜂 and 蜂蜜 are "unrelated words" (不相关词) might leave room for argument. I am changing it to  "different meaning words (不同義詞)" in my answer
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-10T02:52:42.577Z
2024-03-15T00:58:18.077Z
2024-03-15T00:58:18.077Z
Tang Ho
<p>Some pairs of Chinese words have the same characters, but in a different order. In English, I would describe such a pair as anagrams . What is the equivalent Chinese term for such pairs of words?</p>
<p>Examples: 牙刷-刷牙；人工-工人；合适-适合.</p>

<word-requests><terminology><linguistics>
Term for words with transposed character order?
# Term for words with transposed character order?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-03-10)

Some pairs of Chinese words have the same characters, but in a different order. In English, I would describe such a pair as anagrams . What is the equivalent Chinese term for such pairs of words?

Examples: 牙刷-刷牙；人工-工人；合适-适合.

**Tags:** word-requests, terminology, linguistics


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-03-10. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

Some are **different meaning words** (不同義詞) created by switching two characters' order

Examples:

牙刷 (n): toothbrush

刷(v)牙(n): brush teeth (刷 and 牙 are two words [v + n])

人工(adj): artificial

工人(n): worker

中心(n): center

心(n)中(preposition): in the heart

Some are **reversible compound words** (可逆复合词). In most cases, the two characters in reversible compound words share similar meanings

Examples:

合适 = 适合 = suitable

愛情 = 情愛 = love

浸沈 = 沈浸 = immerse

鬥爭 = 爭鬥 = struggle; fight

連結 = 結連 = connect; link

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is there a specific Chinese term used to refer a pair of such words?  
> **username_1**: unrelated words = 不相关词;  reversible compound words = 可逆复合词  
> **username_2**: 蜜蜂 mìfēng (honeybee) and 蜂蜜 fēngmì (honey) come to mind as well  
> **username_1**: Saying 蜜蜂 and 蜂蜜 are "unrelated words" (不相关词) might leave room for argument. I am changing it to  "different meaning words (不同義詞)" in my answer  

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