叛 (pàn) - to betray & to rebel

叛Tone 4

pàn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 又

柠七

叛 · pàn

to betray;

to rebel;

to revolt;

to defect

to betrayto rebelto revolt

Usage highlights

betray one's countryarmed rebelliondefect and fleeturn traitorrebel armyrebel against

Synonyms

  • 背— to betray; to break faith
  • 逆— to disobey; to rebel
  • 反— to oppose; to rebel

Antonyms

  • 忠— loyal; faithful
  • 顺— obedient; compliant
  • 从— to follow; to obey

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He betrayed his country (叛国).
  • The general led a rebellion (叛乱).
  • She defected to another organization (叛逃).
  • They were accused of treason (叛变).

Collocations

  • betray one's country(叛国)
  • armed rebellion(叛乱)
  • defect and flee(叛逃)
  • turn traitor(叛变)
  • rebel army(叛军)
  • rebel against(背叛)

Idioms

  • Betray one's country and seek glory(叛国求荣)
  • Turn against one's own side(众叛亲离)
  • Betrayal and disobedience(叛经离道)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with the gravest political crimes in Chinese culture, particularly betrayal of the sovereign.
  • Considered one of the most serious moral failings in Confucian ethics, violating the principle of loyalty.
  • In modern contexts, often used in political discourse to describe defection or opposition to established authority.

FAQ