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推翻 (tuī fān) — to overthrow (a government, regime, etc.); to overturn, to repudiate (a decision, contract, charge, etc.)

Definition

推翻 means to push over or overturn — used for both physical objects (a table) and abstract things like a government, verdict, or theory. Stronger and more decisive than 打倒, which focuses on physically knocking down or politically toppling a regime.

verb
to overthrow (a government, regime, etc.)to overturnto repudiate (a decision, contract, charge, etc.)

Examples

  • 推翻。
    Rén mín qǐ yì tuī fān le dú cái zhèng quán.
    The people's uprising overthrew the dictatorial regime.
  • 推翻。
    Fǎ yuàn tuī fān le zhī qián de pàn jué.
    The court overturned the previous verdict.
  • 推翻。
    Tā yòng lì tuī fān le nà zhāng jiù zhuō zi.
    He pushed over that old table with force.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

推tuīpush
翻fānoverturn

推 (push) and 翻 (overturn) combine to mean overthrow.

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
隹
隹zhuī推tuī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 扌 is a hand, and the right side 隹 gives the sound; the character shows pushing with the hand.

Open 推 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Government & Politics

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