翻船

fānchuán

verb #26,431

Meanings

1 to capsize
2 to overturn a boat
3 (figuratively) to suffer a setback or defeat
4 to fail unexpectedly

Characters

to flip over; to overturn

Examples

风浪太大，小船翻船了。

Fēnglàng tài dà, xiǎo chuán fānchuán le.

The waves were too strong and the small boat capsized.

他在最后一步翻船，功亏一篑。

Tā zài zuìhòu yī bù fānchuán, gōng kuī yī kuì.

He failed at the last step, falling just short of success.

别在小事上翻船，要谨慎。

Bié zài xiǎoshì shàng fānchuán, yào jǐnshèn.

Do not stumble on small things; be careful.

Tips

usage

翻船 is used both literally (a boat capsizing) and figuratively (an unexpected failure or downfall). The figurative use is very common in everyday speech and journalism.

Stroke Order

翻 fān

船 chuán