tuīfān: 推翻 - Overthrow, Topple, Repudiate

• Keywords: 推翻, tuifan, tui fan, overthrow in Chinese, topple, repudiate, overturn a verdict, overthrow government, Chinese revolution, refute a theory, Chinese history, HSK 6
• Summary: The Chinese verb 推翻 (tuīfān) is a powerful and formal term that means to overthrow, topple, or repudiate. It is most famously used in historical and political contexts to describe the overthrow of a government, dynasty, or ruler. However, it is also commonly used in abstract situations, such as to overturn a legal verdict, refute a scientific theory, or completely reject a previous conclusion. Understanding tuīfān offers insight into the dynamics of power and argument in Chinese thought.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tuīfān
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To overthrow a system of power or to overturn a decision, theory, or verdict.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a massive, heavy statue. You don't just oppose it; you physically push (推) it until it flips over (翻), crashing to the ground, unable to be put back up. That's the feeling of `推翻`. It signifies a complete and forceful reversal, whether it's a political regime being brought down by a revolution or a long-held belief being shattered by new evidence. It implies finality and the total defeat of the original entity or idea.

• 推 (tuī): To push; to shove. This character depicts a hand (扌) pushing forward a bird (隹), representing the action of propelling something forward. It provides the sense of applying force.
• 翻 (fān): To flip over; to turn over; to translate. This character shows feathers (羽) and a field (田), perhaps evoking the image of birds taking flight and flipping in the air. It contributes the idea of a complete reversal or turning upside-down.
• Together, 推翻 (tuīfān) literally means “to push over and flip.” This creates a vivid and powerful image of actively and successfully toppling something large, established, and significant.

• The Dynastic Cycle: The concept of `推翻` is deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese history. For thousands of years, China was governed by a series of dynasties. The historical narrative is one of a “Dynastic Cycle,” where a new dynasty rises, rules wisely, becomes corrupt, and is then eventually overthrown (推翻) by a rebellion, leading to a new dynasty. This was justified by the philosophical concept of the “Mandate of Heaven” (天命, Tiānmìng), which held that a just ruler had divine approval, but a corrupt one could have that mandate revoked by the people, who had the right to `推翻` them.
• Comparison to Western “Revolution”: In the West, “revolution” often implies a radical, linear break from the past, aiming to establish a brand-new ideology (e.g., the French Revolution's “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”). While `推翻` can be part of a revolution, its cultural baggage in China is more cyclical. It can feel like a necessary, almost natural, part of restoring order by removing a corrupt power, rather than creating a completely new world order. In modern political discourse, discussing the `推翻` of the current government is extremely sensitive and is treated as a call for subversion.

`推翻` is a formal and strong verb. It's not used in casual, everyday conversation for trivial matters.

This is the most common and literal usage, found in historical texts, news reports, and political discussions.

• Connotation: Serious, significant, and world-changing.
• Context: Used for governments, dynasties, regimes, and rulers.
• Example: Talking about the 1911 Xinhai Revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty.

This is a very common and important usage in formal, intellectual, and legal contexts. It signifies a complete refutation.

• Connotation: Decisive, definitive, intellectually forceful.
• Context: Used for verdicts, conclusions, theories, arguments, and previous statements.
• Example: A lawyer presenting new evidence to overturn a court's original verdict.

• Example 1:
  • 辛亥革命推翻了清朝的统治。
  • Pinyin: Xīnhài Gémìng tuīfān le Qīngcháo de tǒngzhì.
  • English: The Xinhai Revolution overthrew the rule of the Qing Dynasty.
  • Analysis: This is a classic historical example of `推翻` used to describe the toppling of a major political power.

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• Example 2:
  • 新的证据足以推翻最初的判决。
  • Pinyin: Xīn de zhèngjù zúyǐ tuīfān zuìchū de pànjué.
  • English: The new evidence is sufficient to overturn the original verdict.
  • Analysis: Here, `推翻` is used in a legal context. It doesn't mean a physical overthrow, but a complete invalidation of a formal decision.

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• Example 3:
  • 哥白尼的日心说推翻了统治欧洲一千多年的地心说。
  • Pinyin: Gēbáiní de rìxīnshuō tuīfān le tǒngzhì Ōuzhōu yī qiān duō nián de dìxīnshuō.
  • English: Copernicus's heliocentric theory overturned the geocentric theory that had dominated Europe for over a thousand years.
  • Analysis: This shows `推翻` used for abstract concepts. The old theory wasn't just challenged; it was completely invalidated and replaced.

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• Example 4:
  • 反对派企图推翻现任政府。
  • Pinyin: Fǎnduìpài qìtú tuīfān xiànrèn zhèngfǔ.
  • English: The opposition party is attempting to overthrow the current government.
  • Analysis: A modern political example. The verb `企图 (qìtú)` means “to attempt,” indicating the action is not yet successful.

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• Example 5:
  • 他提出的论点被当场推翻了。
  • Pinyin: Tā tíchū de lùndiǎn bèi dāngchǎng tuīfān le.
  • English: The argument he presented was refuted on the spot.
  • Analysis: Used in the context of a debate or discussion. The `被 (bèi)` structure indicates the passive voice—his argument “was overthrown.”

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• Example 6:
  • 我们不能轻易推翻自己之前做出的决定。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bùnéng qīngyì tuīfān zìjǐ zhīqián zuòchū de juédìng.
  • English: We cannot lightly overturn the decisions we made before.
  • Analysis: A figurative use in a business or personal context. It implies that reversing a major decision is a serious action.

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• Example 7:
  • 任何想要推翻社会主义制度的企图都将失败。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé xiǎngyào tuīfān shèhuìzhǔyì zhìdù de qìtú dōu jiāng shībài.
  • English: Any attempt to overthrow the socialist system will fail.
  • Analysis: This is an example of official political language often seen in state media in China.

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• Example 8:
  • 他们的目标是推翻暴政，建立一个民主国家。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de mùbiāo shì tuīfān bàozhèng, jiànlì yīge mínzhǔ guójiā.
  • English: Their goal is to overthrow tyranny and establish a democratic country.
  • Analysis: `暴政 (bàozhèng)` means tyranny or despotic rule, a common object for the verb `推翻`.

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• Example 9:
  • 这个科学发现可能会推翻我们对宇宙的理解。
  • Pinyin: Zhège kēxué fāxiàn kěnéng huì tuīfān wǒmen duì yǔzhòu de lǐjiě.
  • English: This scientific discovery could potentially overturn our understanding of the universe.
  • Analysis: Shows the profound impact of an idea or discovery, powerful enough to completely change a field of knowledge.

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• Example 10:
  • 你不能因为一个人的小错误就推翻他的全部贡献。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng yīnwèi yīgèrén de xiǎo cuòwù jiù tuīfān tā de quánbù gòngxiàn.
  • English: You can't repudiate all of his contributions just because of one small mistake.
  • Analysis: Here, `推翻` means to completely negate or invalidate something's worth.

• Don't use it for small, physical objects. A common mistake is to use `推翻` for knocking something over. You don't `推翻` a glass of water.
  • Incorrect: 我不小心推翻了我的咖啡。 (Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn tuīfān le wǒ de kāfēi.)
  • Correct: 我不小心打翻了我的咖啡。 (Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn dǎfān le wǒ de kāfēi.)
  • Reason: `推翻` is reserved for large, significant things (governments, theories, verdicts). `打翻 (dǎfān)` means “to knock over” and is used for everyday objects.
• `推翻` vs. `反对` (fǎnduì): `反对` means “to oppose” or “to be against.” It is an opinion or a stance. `推翻` is the successful action of bringing something down.
  • `反对` (Oppose): 我反对这个计划。 (Wǒ fǎnduì zhège jìhuà.) - “I am against this plan.” (An opinion)
  • `推翻` (Overthrow): 他们推翻了旧的计划。 (Tāmen tuīfān le jiù de jìhuà.) - “They overthrew the old plan.” (A successful action)

• 革命 (gémìng) - Revolution. The process or movement that often aims to `推翻` a government.
• 颠覆 (diānfù) - To subvert; to undermine. A more subtle way to bring down a power structure, often from within. `推翻` is more direct and forceful.
• 打倒 (dǎdǎo) - To knock down; to overthrow. More of an emotive slogan, literally “to strike down.” Often chanted during protests.
• 起义 (qǐyì) - Uprising; insurrection. A specific event, an armed rebellion, that is an attempt to `推翻` a ruler.
• 政变 (zhèngbiàn) - Coup d'état. A specific method of `推翻` a government by a small group already in a position of power (e.g., the military).
• 废除 (fèichú) - To abolish. Used for laws, systems, or traditions, not for governments. You `废除` a law but `推翻` the government that made it.
• 建立 (jiànlì) - To establish; to found. The logical opposite of `推翻`. After you overthrow a dynasty, you establish a new one.
• 王朝 (wángcháo) - Dynasty. The type of political entity that is frequently the object of `推翻` in Chinese history.