篡位

cuànwèi
verb #41,170

Meanings

  1. 1 to usurp the throne

Examples

HSK 4
Tā xiǎng cuànwèi, jiéguǒ shībài le.
He tried to usurp the throne, but failed.
HSK 5
Wáng Mǎng cuànwèi yǐhòu, jiànlì le Xīncháo.
After usurping the throne, Wang Mang founded the Xin dynasty.

Tips

usage
篡位 is for seizing a throne; in a modern state the word is 政变 'coup'. Traditional histories treated 王莽, who took the Han throne in 9 AD, as the model usurper.

Stroke Order

篡 cuàn
位 wèi