HSK · Level 118
45 words
Chinese word
颠覆
Pronunciation
Pinyindiān fù
Meaning
- verboverturn
Example
这件事完全颠覆了我的想法。zhè jiàn shì wán quán diān fù le wǒ de xiáng fǎ
This event completely overturned my way of thinking.
More examples
这场新潮流可能会颠覆传统的生活方式。zhè chǎng xīn cháo liú kě néng huì diān fù chuán tǒng de shēng huó fāng shì
This new trend may overturn traditional ways of life.
Core concept
An existing structure is flipped so thoroughly that its original arrangement no longer holds.
Common phrases
颠覆传统diān fù chuán tǒng
overturn tradition
颠覆认知diān fù rèn zhī
overturn perceptions
颠覆秩序diān fù zhì xù
overturn the established order
Similar words
推翻tuī fān: Overthrowing a government or institution and replacing it with another.
打倒dá dǎo: Defeating a person or power and removing its control.
改变gǎi biàn: Changing a situation or quality to create a new state.
破坏pò huài: Breaking apart an object or relationship so it loses its proper function.
Definition in Chinese
使原有的秩序、观点或体制完全推翻，导致根本性的改变。shǐ yuán yǒu de zhì xù guān diǎn huò tǐ zhì wán quán tuī fān dǎo zhì gēn běn xìng de gǎi biàn
Word origin
The compound 颠覆 (diānfù, "overturn") joins 颠 (diān, "topple") and 覆 (fù, "turn over"), creating a vivid image of a complete reversal that also applies to systems and ideas.
Usage tips
- The word carries much more force than a simple change of plan, so it often describes a new idea that makes an old view impossible to keep unchanged.