篡 (cuàn) - to usurp — to seize power or position & to alter or falsify for fraudulent purposes.

篡Tone 4

cuàn ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

篡 · cuàn

to usurp — to seize power or position wrongfully, especially by force or intrigue;

to alter or falsify for fraudulent purposes.

to usurp — to seize power or positionto alter or falsify for fraudulent purposes.

Usage highlights

Usurp the throneAlter/falsify documentsTamper with evidenceFalsify historyUsurp state powerForge records

Synonyms

  • 夺— to seize, to take by force
  • 窃— to steal, to usurp (as in 窃国)
  • 篡夺— to usurp, to seize wrongfully

Antonyms

  • 让— to yield, to abdicate
  • 禅— to abdicate in favor of another
  • 奉— to offer, to present respectfully

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The general attempted to usurp the throne (篡位).
  • They altered the official records (篡改记录).
  • He was accused of tampering with the election results (篡改选举结果).
  • Historical documents were falsified (篡改历史文献).

Collocations

  • Usurp the throne(篡位)
  • Alter/falsify documents(篡改文件)
  • Tamper with evidence(篡改证据)
  • Falsify history(篡改历史)
  • Usurp state power(篡权)
  • Forge records(篡改记录)

Idioms

  • Usurp the throne and seize power(篡位夺权)
  • Alter and fabricate(篡改伪造)
  • Usurp the throne and murder the sovereign(弑君篡位)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with court intrigues and power struggles in imperial China.
  • Carries strong negative connotations of betrayal and illegitimate seizure of authority.
  • Often appears in historical narratives about dynastic transitions and political conspiracies.

FAQ