革命

gémìng

noun HSK 7 #5,117

Measure Word

一场革命 chǎng

Meanings

1 revolution

Characters

to reform; leather

fate; life; mandate

Examples

工业革命改变了世界。

Gōngyè gémìng gǎibiàn le shìjiè.

The Industrial Revolution changed the world.

技术革命正在加速。

Jìshù gémìng zhèngzài jiāsù.

The technological revolution is accelerating.

Tips

history

革命 literally means "remove the mandate" — from the ancient concept of 天命 (Mandate of Heaven). When a dynasty lost Heaven's favor, revolution was seen as legitimate.

usage

Used both for political revolutions (辛亥革命) and figurative ones (技术革命, 绿色革命).

Stroke Order

革 gé

命 mìng