Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 分析 | fēnxī |
| 回顧 / 回顾 | huígù |
Depending on the context, different Chinese terms are used to express the concept of a 'review'. Use 分析 for a review that focuses on a detailed, logical breakdown or an analytical evaluation. Use 回顧 / 回顾 when the review is a retrospective look back at past events or a summary of a period of time. For a critical commentary or a published review of a book, movie or art piece, use 評論.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 回顧 / 回顾 is composed of 回 (to return) and 顧 (to look), literally meaning 'to look back'.
Which one should you use?
While 分析 is used for analytical evaluations and 回顧 / 回顾 is used for retrospection, 評論 is the specific term for a critical commentary or a published review. In a more specific sense, 分析 refers to an analysis, whereas 回顧 / 回顾 refers to a retrospect or a review of past events.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, people may use 評論 as a more general way to express 'review' in both formal and informal contexts.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
fēnxī
Did you know?
- When writing a critical review 評論 in Chinese, writers often use a technique called 先褒後貶 (praise first then criticize) to maintain social harmony and avoid appearing overly aggressive.
- The character 顧 in 回顧 is also used in the word for 'customer', which is 顧客, implying a person who 'looks back' or returns to a shop.
- The character 析 in 分析 refers specifically to the act of 'splitting' or 'separating' something into parts, like a knife cutting through wood.
Examples in context
- 董事会对财务报表进行了详尽的审查。The board conducted a thorough review of the financial statements.
- 委员会负责评审研究提案。The committee is responsible for the review of research proposals.
- 我在网上看了一篇电影评论，于是决定去看这部电影。I read a movie review online and decided to watch the film.
- 你能简单给我点评一下市区新开的那家餐厅吗？Can you give me a quick review of the new restaurant downtown?
- 这篇文章的分析很深刻。Zhè piān wénzhāng de fēnxī hěn shēnkè.The analysis of this article is very profound.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a new book at a cafe.
- 梓涵 Zihan志强，你看过这本书的分析吗？Zhìqiáng, nǐ kànguò zhè běn shū de fēnxī ma?Zhiqiang, have you seen the review of this book?
- 志强 Zhiqiang还没，那篇分析写得怎么样？Hái méi, nà piān fēnxī xiě de zěnmeyàng?Not yet, how is that review written?
- 梓涵 Zihan我觉得那篇分析非常专业。Wǒ juéde nà piān fēnxī fēicháng zhuānyè.I think that review is very professional.
- 志强 Zhiqiang太好了，快发给我看看。Tài hǎole, kuài fā gěi wǒ kànkan.Great, send it to me quickly to see.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “review” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
