倒戈

dǎogē

verb #24,417

Meanings

1 to defect
2 to switch sides
3 to turn one's weapon against one's own side

Characters

to fall / to reverse / to turn around

spear / lance (ancient weapon)

Examples

战斗中，几名士兵突然倒戈，投降了敌人。

Zhàndòu zhōng, jǐ míng shìbīng tūrán dǎogē, tóuxiáng le dírén.

In the middle of the battle, several soldiers suddenly defected and surrendered to the enemy.

他在关键时刻倒戈，让整个计划失败了。

Tā zài guānjiàn shíkè dǎogē, ràng zhěnggè jìhuà shībài le.

He switched sides at the critical moment, causing the entire plan to fail.

这位官员倒戈相向，公开批评自己的政党。

Zhè wèi guānyuán dǎogē xiāng xiàng, gōngkāi pīpíng zìjǐ de zhèngdǎng.

The official turned against his own side, publicly criticizing his own party.

Tips

history

倒戈 literally means 'to reverse the spear' — pointing your weapon back at your own army. It comes from ancient Chinese military history describing soldiers who turned against their own commanders.

Stroke Order

倒 dào

戈 gē