颠覆

• Pinyin: diān fù
• Hanzi breakdown: 颠 = 真 + 页 (to topple, summit); 覆 = 襾 + 復 (to overturn, cover over)

Meaning

To overturn; to subvert; to completely overthrow or undermine an established system, order, or belief.

Used in political, technological, and cultural contexts. 颠覆性技术 (disruptive technology), 颠覆政权 (subvert state power), 颠覆认知 (overturn one's understanding). Carries strong connotations of fundamental, radical change — often threatening to existing structures.

Examples

1. 这项颠覆性技术的问世彻底改变了全球通信产业的格局，令传统运营商措手不及。 The arrival of this disruptive technology completely reshaped the global communications industry, catching traditional carriers off guard.
2. 部分极端势力企图以暴力手段颠覆现行宪政秩序，遭到当局坚决制裁。 Some extremist forces tried to overthrow the current constitutional order through violence and were firmly punished by the authorities.
3. 这部小说颠覆了读者对英雄主义的传统认知，引发了广泛的社会讨论。 This novel upended readers’ traditional ideas of heroism and sparked widespread public debate.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, technology, culture, rhetoric

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 人工智能的迅猛发展正在颠覆多个传统行业的商业模式，迫使企业重新审视自身的核心竞争力。(The rapid development of artificial intelligence is overturning the business models of many traditional industries, forcing companies to reassess their core competitiveness.)
• 任何企图颠覆国家政权的行为，都将受到法律的严厉惩处，这是维护社会稳定的底线。(Any attempt to subvert state power will be severely punished by law — this is the bottom line for maintaining social stability.)

Don't Say

• 颠覆掉 — 掉 is redundant after 颠覆 since the verb already implies complete overturning; say 颠覆 alone

Origin & History

颠 (to topple, overturn) + 覆 (to overturn, capsize) — both elements mean to overturn, reinforcing the meaning

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal