打倒 (dǎ dǎo) — to knock down (physically); to overthrow (a reg… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Spans both senses: physical (knock down a person) and political (overthrow a regime). Stronger than 倒 for overthrow, and more violent/forceful than 推翻.

verb

to knock down (physically)to overthrow (a regime, system, etc.)

Examples

打倒。
Tā yì quán jiù bǎ duì shǒu dǎ dǎo le.
He knocked down his opponent with one punch.
打倒。
Rén mín zuì zhōng dǎ dǎo le dú cái zhèng quán.
The people finally overthrew the dictatorial regime.
打倒！
dǎ dǎo Dì guó zhǔ yì!
Down with imperialism!

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

打倒 shows 打 (hit) causing 倒 (to fall), hence knocking down or overthrowing.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌丁打

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻到倒

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

到

到dào倒dào

Same sound today

倒 combines 亻 (person) with 到, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Conflict & Agreement

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