Chinese word

背叛

Pronunciation

Pinyinbèi pàn

Meaning

  • verbbetray

Example

他不会轻易背叛朋友。tā bú huì qīng yì bèi pàn péng yǒu

He will not easily betray his friends.

Illustration for 背叛 (betray)

More examples

他被指控背叛国家，面临严厉的法律制裁。tā bèi zhǐ kòng bèi pàn guó jiā miàn lín yán lì de fǎ lǜ zhì cái

He was accused of betraying his country and faces severe legal punishment.

Core concept

Turning away from a trusted side and joining or helping its opposition.

Common phrases

  • 背叛朋友bèi pàn péng yǒu

    betray friends

  • 背叛信任bèi pàn xìn rèn

    betray trust

  • 背叛国家bèi pàn guó jiā

    betray one's country

Similar words

出卖chū mài: To sell someone out for personal gain, often by giving away secrets or harming that person.
变节biàn jié: To change sides or abandon a former cause, then act against former allies.
背弃bèi qì: To abandon a promise, relationship, or duty and no longer remain loyal to it.

Definition in Chinese

放弃对某人或某事的信任或忠诚，转而支持对立一方或损害对方利益。fàng qì duì mǒu rén huò mǒu shì de xìn rèn huò zhōng chéng zhuǎn ér zhī chí duì lì yì fāng huò sǔn hài duì fāng lì yì

Word origin

背 (bèi, "back") + 叛 (pàn, "rebel") presents the image of turning one's back and opposing the former side.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this is a strong word for a serious break of loyalty, so it suits a friend, group, or cause better than a small mistake, silence, or ordinary disagreement.

Other meanings

  • rebelverb
  • be disloyalverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 背叛者bèi pàn zhětraitornoun
  • 背叛行为bèi pàn xíng wéiact of betrayalnoun

Word lists with this word