against, opposite, contrary

反 is composed of 厂 (cliff) and 又 (hand). 厂 is a pictograph of a steep cliff, while 又 is a pictograph of a hand. Thus, 反 depicts the act of climbing a cliff with the hand, originally meaning to cling or hold onto. This meaning was later taken over by 扳. 反 later extended to mean turning over or returning, as climbing a cliff upward requires resisting strong gravitational force.