The term “打倒” is deeply embedded in the political soul of modern China. Its power comes from its central role in the revolutionary history of the 20th century. During the May Fourth Movement (1919), the war against Japan, the Chinese Civil War, and especially the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), “打倒…!” was the quintessential slogan of political struggle. It was chanted in mass rallies, painted on massive banners, and printed in newspapers to denounce political enemies, foreign powers, and old traditions. Phrases like “打倒帝国主义!” (dǎdǎo dìguózhǔyì - Down with Imperialism!) and “打倒地主!” (dǎdǎo dìzhǔ - Down with the Landlords!) defined entire eras of social upheaval. To compare this to a Western concept, “Down with…” is a direct translation, but it lacks the same historical gravity. In the West, “Down with the King!” is something from a history book or a movie. In China, the call to “打倒” a target was, for decades, a very real and often dangerous political act that could lead to purges, struggle sessions, and radical societal change. It implies not just dissent but the complete and utter eradication of the target's power and influence.
While its use in genuine, large-scale political protests is sensitive and rare in mainland China today, “打倒” still appears in several contexts.