Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
颠(顛)diān(dian1)
The character 颠 (diān) primarily means 'to overturn' or 'to fall forwards,' often used in contexts involving motion or disturbance, such as in 'to jolt' or 'to upset.' It can also refer to the top or apex of something, particularly in more abstract or figurative uses.
Strokes16Radical页Frequency#9612DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the idea of 'upside down' or 'overturning' can be associated with change or disruption, often seen in proverbs that discuss the transient nature of life and fortune.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing on their head (the top of their head is the '颠'), and then they suddenly jolt forward, causing everything around them to spill. The character's radical '音' (yīn) suggests sound, like a loud thud when they fall, helping you remember both the pronunciation and meaning.
Meanings of 颠
diān(dian1)
1top (of the head)
2apex
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 颠
颠Simplified
顛Traditional
16Strokes
页Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9612Frequency Rank
Podcast: 颠
Podcast: 颠
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 颠
Quick Contrast
翻 (fān, to flip) — use 颠 (diān) when emphasizing a forward motion or disturbance, while 翻 (fān) focuses more on a horizontal or rotational movement.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person standing on their head (the top of their head is the '颠'), and then they suddenly jolt forward, causing everything around them to spill. The character's radical '音' (yīn) suggests sound, like a loud thud when they fall, helping you remember both the pronunciation and meaning.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone, as 'diān' is pronounced with a high level tone (first tone), which can be confused with similar sounding words. This character is often used in more informal contexts, especially in phrases related to physical movement or disturbances.
HSK Study Tips
While 颠 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, learners at higher levels might encounter it in literary contexts or discussions about physical states. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in phrases or idioms related to movement or upheaval.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the idea of 'upside down' or 'overturning' can be associated with change or disruption, often seen in proverbs that discuss the transient nature of life and fortune.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 颠 (diān) with 颠倒 (diāndǎo), using them interchangeably. Remember that 颠 focuses more on the action of falling or jostling, while 颠倒 emphasizes the state of being upside down.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 颠
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 颠 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 颠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 颠
颠 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
战争____倒是非：杀戮与残忍成了美德。
War turns morality inside out: killing and cruelty are virtues.
War turns morality inside out: killing and cruelty are virtues.
2
这一遗迹在德鲁伊特来到不列颠前就已存在。
zhè yī yí jì zài dé lǔ yī tè lái dào bù liè diān qián jiù yǐ cún zài。
The monument predates the arrival of the druids in Britain.
3
那辆长途汽车危险地颠簸摇晃。
nà liàng cháng tú qì chē wēi xiǎn dì diān bò yáo huǎng。
The coach rocked dangerously.
4
我们担心稍微颠簸一下就可能会使她的伤势恶化。
wǒ mén dān xīn shāo wēi diān bò yī xià jiù kě néng huì shǐ tā de shāng shì è huà。
We were worried that one tiny jolt could worsen her injuries.
5
他被她迷得神魂颠倒，连孩子都抛到了九霄云外。
tā bèi tā mí dé shén hún diān dǎo， ， lián hái zǐ dū pāo dào le jiǔ xiāo yún。
He became so besotted with her that even his children were forgotten.
6
他的眼睛睁开了，看到的一切都是颠倒的。
tā de yǎn jīng zhēng kāi le， ， kàn dào de yī qiē dū shì diān dǎo。
His eyes were open and everything he saw was upside down.
7
彼得转弯太急，换挡不利索，车开得一颠一颠的。
bǐ dé zhuǎn wān tài jí， ， huàn dǎng bù lì， suǒ ， chē kāi dé yī diān yī。
Peter drove jerkily, cornering too fast and fumbling the gears.
8
两个小毛孩在他们前面屁颠屁颠地跑开了。
liǎng gè xiǎo máo hái zài tā mén qián miàn pì diān pì diān dì pǎo kāi le。
Two very small children scuttled away in front of them.
9
卡车开过路面上的隆起处，颠了一下。
kǎ chē kāi guò lù miàn shàng de lóng qǐ chǔ， ， diān le yī。
The truck hit a bump and bounced.
10
他故意的上下颠动车把,摇这个老猴子几下.
tā gù yì de shàng xià diān dòng chē bǎ, , yáo zhè gè lǎo hóu zǐ jī.
He deliberately jerked the shafts to rock him a bit.
Cultural Notes for 颠
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the idea of 'upside down' or 'overturning' can be associated with change or disruption, often seen in proverbs that discuss the transient nature of life and fortune.
Word Family of 颠
Compounds2
癫dian1crazy, insane; madness, mania
巅dian1mountain peak, mountain top
Words Containing This Character18
颠diānapex顛
颠倒diāndǎoto reverse顛倒
颠覆diānfùto capsize顛覆
颠簸diānbǒto shake顛簸
不列颠Britain不列顛
大不列颠Great Britain大不列顛
颠倒黑白to misrepresent the facts顛倒黑白
神魂颠倒fascinated神魂顛倒
颠沛流离to drift顛沛流離
颠倒是非to invert right and wrong顛倒是非
颠扑不破solid顛撲不破
颠三倒四confused顛三倒四
颠来倒去to harp on顛來倒去
颠沛destitute顛沛
颠茄deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna)顛茄
颠鸾倒凤to have sexual intercourse顛鸞倒鳳
流离颠沛destitute and homeless (idiom); displaced and without means流離顛沛
跑跑颠颠to work hectically跑跑顛顛
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 癫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 颠
You might say, '他不小心把书桌上的东西颠倒了' (He accidentally upset the things on the desk).
Yes, it is commonly used in physical contexts, describing actions that involve falling or jostling.
Common phrases include 颠覆 (diānfù, to overturn) and 颠倒 (diāndǎo, to turn upside down).
