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March 24, 2026
推翻tuīfān(tui1fan1)
推翻 (tui1 fan1) means 'to overthrow' or 'to topple.' This verb is commonly used in political contexts, such as the overthrow of a government or regime. It can also be used metaphorically to describe the rejection of ideas or established norms.
Frequency#7284DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the term 推翻 is often associated with significant political movements, such as the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. It reflects the Chinese people's desire for change and reform throughout history.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'push' (推) that sends a 'fan' (翻) spinning out of control, representing the act of toppling something. Visualize a fan being pushed off a table, symbolizing the dramatic act of overthrowing.
Meanings of 推翻
tuīfān(tui1fan1)
1to overthrow
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 推翻
推翻Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7284Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 推翻
Podcast: 推翻
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AI Study Notes for 推翻
Quick Contrast
推翻 (overthrow) vs 颠覆 (subvert) — use 推翻 when referring to a complete overthrow, while 颠覆 implies a more gradual or insidious undermining.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'push' (推) that sends a 'fan' (翻) spinning out of control, representing the act of toppling something. Visualize a fan being pushed off a table, symbolizing the dramatic act of overthrowing.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 推翻 is typically used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about politics or social movements. Avoid using it in casual conversation about minor disagreements, as it may sound overly dramatic. Common collocations include '推翻政府' (overthrow the government) and '推翻传统' (overthrow tradition).
HSK Study Tips
As a level 6 HSK word, 推翻 is important for discussing complex societal issues. Students should focus on its usage in political discourse and how it relates to other verbs of change and resistance at this level, such as 改变 (to change) and 反抗 (to resist).
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the term 推翻 is often associated with significant political movements, such as the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. It reflects the Chinese people's desire for change and reform throughout history.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 推翻 with 颠覆 (dian1 fu4), which also means 'overthrow' but carries a more nuanced sense of subversion. For instance, saying '推翻意见' (overthrow opinions) is incorrect; it should be '反对意见' (oppose opinions).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 推翻
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Grammar Patterns of 推翻
推翻 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. 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
我一直在致力于____有关意义恒定性的谬谈。
I have been working on exploding the myth of fixity of meaning.
Section 706 ( 2 ) lists a variety of grounds on which an agency decision can be reversed.
6
刻卜勒的结论推翻了关于这个问题的一切过时的观点.
kè bǔ lè de jié lùn tuī fān le guān yú zhè gè wèn tí de yī qiē guò shí de guān diǎn.
Kepler's conclusions upset all previous ideas on the subject.
Cultural Notes for 推翻
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese history, the term 推翻 is often associated with significant political movements, such as the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. It reflects the Chinese people's desire for change and reform throughout history.
Frequently Asked Questions about 推翻
Yes, it can also refer to overturning ideas or customs, but it's less common in everyday conversation.
推翻 means to completely overthrow something, while 反对 means to oppose or disagree with something without necessarily implying a total overthrow.
Not necessarily; while it often has negative connotations, it can also be used positively when referring to overthrowing oppressive regimes.
