颠覆

顛覆

diānfù

verb HSK 7-9 #11,366

Meanings

1 to subvert
2 to overturn
3 to topple

Characters

top of the head; to turn upside down

to overturn; to cover

Examples

HSK 3

这部电影颠覆了人们对爱情的理解。

Zhè bù diànyǐng diānfù le rénmen duì àiqíng de lǐjiě.

This movie overturned people's understanding of love.

HSK 4

新技术颠覆了整个行业。

Xīn jìshù diānfù le zhěnggè hángyè.

New technology disrupted the entire industry.

Tips

usage

颠覆 can mean physically overturning (a boat, a regime) or figuratively disrupting/revolutionizing (ideas, industries). In modern usage, the figurative sense is very common, similar to English 'disruptive.'

Stroke Order

颠 diān

覆 fù