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March 24, 2026
背叛bèipàn(bei4pan4)
背叛 (bèi pàn) means to betray or to be disloyal, often in the context of breaking trust in personal relationships or allegiances. It can refer to both emotional betrayal, such as cheating in a romantic relationship, and political betrayal, such as turning against one's country or cause. This term carries a strong negative connotation, highlighting a serious breach of trust.
Frequency#1754DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Betrayal is a significant theme in Chinese literature and history, often depicted in stories of loyalty versus treachery, such as in the classic novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. The concept of 'face' (面子) also ties into 背叛, as betrayal can result in severe social consequences.
Memory Tip
Imagine someone背 (bèi) with their back turned, plotting to pan (pàn) against their friends. Visualize them hiding a dagger behind their back, ready to betray. The imagery of betrayal and the sound of '背' and '叛' can help you remember the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 背叛
bèipàn(bei4pan4)
1to betray
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 背叛
背叛Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1754Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 背叛
Podcast: 背叛
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AI Study Notes for 背叛
Quick Contrast
背叛 (betray) vs 出卖 (sell out) — choose 背叛 when emphasizing emotional or personal disloyalty, while 出卖 often implies a transactional or mercenary betrayal.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine someone背 (bèi) with their back turned, plotting to pan (pàn) against their friends. Visualize them hiding a dagger behind their back, ready to betray. The imagery of betrayal and the sound of '背' and '叛' can help you remember the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
背叛 is often used in serious contexts, so it’s important to use it appropriately, avoiding it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '背叛朋友' (betray friends) or '背叛国家' (betray the country). Be cautious with the tone; mispronouncing the tones can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 背叛 connects to themes of loyalty and trust, which can be explored through other related vocabulary such as 忠诚 (zhōng chéng, loyalty) and 信任 (xìn rèn, trust). Students should focus on how 背叛 is used in various contexts and practice sentences to reinforce meaning.
Cultural Note
Betrayal is a significant theme in Chinese literature and history, often depicted in stories of loyalty versus treachery, such as in the classic novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. The concept of 'face' (面子) also ties into 背叛, as betrayal can result in severe social consequences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 背叛 with 叛逆 (pàn nì, rebellion), which has a different meaning. For example, saying '他背叛了他的父母' (He betrayed his parents) is correct, but using 背叛 in a context of youthful rebellion would be inappropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 背叛
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Grammar Patterns of 背叛
背叛 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
她觉得自己的所作所为是对帕特里克的____。
She felt that what she had done was a betrayal of Patrick.
Example Sentences for 背叛 (7)
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1
她觉得自己的所作所为是对帕特里克的背叛。
tā jué dé zì jǐ de suǒ zuò suǒ wéi shì duì pà tè lǐ kè de bèi pàn。
She felt that what she had done was a betrayal of Patrick.
2
她一副遭人遗弃和背叛的样子。
tā yī fù zāo rén yí qì hé bèi pàn de yàng zǐ。
She had the look of someone deserted and betrayed.
3
她会犯下背叛自己母亲的错误。
tā huì fàn xià bèi pàn zì jǐ mǔ qīn de cuò wù。
She would be guilty of betraying her own mother.
4
“是你先背叛我的！”她充满怨恨地回答。
“ “ shì nǐ xiān bèi pàn wǒ！” de ！” tā chōng mǎn yuàn hèn dì。
"You betrayed me first!" she answered venomously.
5
该剧讲的是遭到背叛的痛苦，语言诙谐，充满智慧。
gāi jù jiǎng de shì zāo dào bèi pàn de tòng kǔ， ， yǔ yán huī， xié ， chōng mǎn。
The play deals wittily and intelligently with the pain of betrayal.
6
他们称他背叛了自己的族人南非白人。
tā mén chēng tā bèi pàn le zì jǐ de zú rén nán fēi bái rén。
They called him a traitor to his Afrikaner people.
7
总统背叛了他们，违背了不加税的诺言。
zǒng tǒng bèi pàn le tā mén， ， wéi bèi le bù jiā shuì de nuò。
The President betrayed them when he went back on his promise not to raise taxes.
Cultural Notes for 背叛
🏮Cultural insight
Betrayal is a significant theme in Chinese literature and history, often depicted in stories of loyalty versus treachery, such as in the classic novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. The concept of 'face' (面子) also ties into 背叛, as betrayal can result in severe social consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions about 背叛
Yes, 背叛 can refer to betrayal in political or ideological contexts, such as a person betraying their country.
The opposite is 忠诚 (zhōng chéng), which means loyalty or faithfulness.
It is not commonly used in casual conversations; it's more appropriate for discussing serious topics.
