反正 (anyway / in any case)

Two ways to travel, one fixed appointment

• Your friend debates taking a bus or a taxi. You say to sit坐zuòwhat什么shén mevehicle / transport车chēyou你nǐto decide (to do something)决定jué dìng(suggestion)吧ba，in any case反正fǎnzhèngI我wǒeight o'clock八点bā diǎnarrive到dào。 — “You decide how to travel; in any case, I will arrive at eight.”
• in any case反正fǎnzhèng presents a point the speaker treats as holding regardless of the alternatives under discussion. The tone can be practical, reassuring or dismissive.

Put in any case反正fǎnzhèng before the point

• In the neutral written patterns here, use in any case反正fǎnzhèng + clause or subject + in any case反正fǎnzhèng + predicate: in any case反正fǎnzhèngI我wǒnot不bùto go去qù / I我wǒin any case反正fǎnzhèng不去bù qù。
• Keep the two characters together. Colloquial afterthoughts can occur in speech; do not turn the classroom pattern into a claim that every other placement is impossible.

in any case反正fǎnzhèngI我wǒeight o'clock八点bā diǎnarrive到dào。

Identify which alternatives are set aside

• not to be concerned不管bù guǎnyou你nǐ信不信xìn bù xìn，in any case反正fǎnzhèngI我wǒletter信xìn。 — “Whether you believe it or not, I believe it.” The speaker’s belief is presented as independent of yours.
• in any case反正fǎnzhèng(concept of) time时间shí jiānstill / also还háiearly早zǎo，we / us我们wǒ menslowly慢慢màn mànto walk走zǒu。 — “There is still time anyway; let us walk slowly.” The point can be a practical circumstance, not only a stubborn refusal.

Contrast a reason with a fixed point

• he / him他tāafter all毕竟bì jìngto be / is是shìnew hand新手xīn shǒu，to / for / give给gěihe / him他tāa bit一点yì diǎn(concept of) time时间shí jiān。 uses after all毕竟bì jìng to support patience with a reason. not to be concerned不管bù guǎnother people别人bié rén去不去qù bù qù，in any case反正fǎnzhèngI我wǒto go去qù。 uses in any case反正fǎnzhèng to set aside other people’s choices.
• Both words can introduce useful information. The distinction is the speaker’s intended connection, not a rule that one word always states a fact and the other never gives a reason.

Listen for the social effect

• in any case反正fǎnzhèngI我wǒnot不bùto go去qù can sound firm or dismissive in an argument. A calm explanation may be more considerate when your decision affects someone else.
• The word does not make an uncertain future certain. You can set aside a debate and still express uncertainty: in any case反正fǎnzhèngnow现在xiàn zàistill / also还háinot不bùto know知道zhī dào，to wait for等děngto notify通知tōng zhī(suggestion)吧ba。 — “We do not know yet anyway; wait for the notice.”

Recall the point and its boundary

• In the travel example, the transport choice is open while the speaker commits to arriving at eight. Identify those two parts before translating.
• In a new exchange, ask what the speaker sets aside and what remains relevant. Read tone and context instead of treating “mind made up” as the only possible meaning.

Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Adverbs.