打翻 (dǎ fān) — (resultative verb) to knock over, to overturn; (resultative verb) to strike down (with a blow)

Definition

A resultative verb meaning to knock over or overturn something (a cup, a sign) with a physical action. Frequently used in the 把 construction with an object that ends up toppled.

verb
(resultative verb) to knock overto overturn(resultative verb) to strike down (with a blow)

Examples

  • 打翻。
    Tā bù xiǎo xīn bǎ bēi zi dǎ fān le.
    He accidentally knocked over the cup.
  • ，。
    Zhè dǔ qiáng hěn jiē shi, nǐ dǎ bù fān de.
    This wall is very solid; you can't knock it over.
  • 打翻。
    Dà fēng bǎ lù biān de guǎng gào pái dǎ fān le.
    The strong wind knocked over the roadside billboard.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

打dǎstrike
翻fānoverturn

A strike 打 that results in overturning 翻 gives knock over.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng打dǎ
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.

Open 打 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羽羽yǔwings
Sound part声符shēngfú
番
番fān翻fān
Same sound today

翻 pairs 羽 (wings) with 番, which gives the sound. The shape shows something fluttering.

Open 翻 →

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