====== tuīfān: 推翻 - Overthrow, Topple, Repudiate ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **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.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **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.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **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.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * **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.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
`推翻` is a formal and strong verb. It's not used in casual, everyday conversation for trivial matters.
==== Overthrowing Systems of Power ====
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.
==== Overturning Decisions and Ideas ====
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 Sentences =====
  * **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.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **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)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[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.