翻船

fānchuán

verb #26,431

Meanings

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

Characters

to flip over; to overturn

Examples

HSK 7-9

风浪太大，小船翻船了。

Fēnglàng tài dà, xiǎochuán fānchuán le.

The waves were too strong and the small boat capsized.

HSK 7-9

他在最后一步翻船，功亏一篑。

Tā zài zuìhòu yī bù fānchuán, gōngkuī-yīkuì.

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

HSK 7-9

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