驳倒 (bó dǎo) — to refute (an argument, theory, etc.) decisivel…

Definition

A result verb: to decisively defeat an argument or theory in debate, leaving no room to reply. Used mainly in formal contexts (academic debate, scholarly critique), not casual disagreement.

verb

to refute (an argument, theory, etc.) decisivelyto demolish (an opponent's position) in debate

Examples

驳倒。
Tā yòng shì shí bó dǎo le duì fāng de guān diǎn.
He used facts to refute the other side's viewpoint.
驳倒。
Zhè ge lǐ lùn yǐ jīng bèi kē xué jiā bó dǎo le.
This theory has already been demolished by scientists.
，驳倒。
Biàn lùn sài zhōng, tā méi néng bó dǎo duì shǒu de lùn zhèng.
In the debate competition, he couldn't refute his opponent's argument.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

驳bórefute

倒dǎodown

“驳” refutes an argument and “倒” shows it falls, meaning refute decisively.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 駁; 驳 is its simplified writing.

馬爻駁

Meaning part形符xíngfú

馬馬mǎhorse

Sound part声符shēngfú

爻

爻yáo駁bó

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

The traditional form 駁 pairs 馬, a horse, with 爻, which gives the sound and can also be interpreted as marks; the simplified 驳 is a later abbreviation.

Open 驳 →

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.

Open 倒 →

Appears in