颠 (diān) - To fall & to topple

颠Tone 1

diān ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

颠 · diān

To fall;

to topple;

to be jolted or shaken;

top or summit;

mentally deranged or crazy.

To fallto toppleto be jolted or shaken

Usage highlights

SummitJolt/bumpFall downTurn upside downCrazy/derangedOverthrow

Synonyms

  • 倒— to fall over; to collapse
  • 跌— to stumble; to fall
  • 疯— crazy; insane

Antonyms

  • 稳— stable; steady
  • 正— upright; correct

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The car jolted violently on the bumpy road (颠簸).
  • He fell down the stairs (从楼梯上颠下来).
  • The mountain peak is covered in snow (山顶).
  • His mind has become unhinged (疯疯颠颠).

Collocations

  • Summit(山顶)
  • Jolt/bump(颠簸)
  • Fall down(颠仆)
  • Turn upside down(颠倒)
  • Crazy/deranged(疯颠)
  • Overthrow(颠覆)

Idioms

  • Turn black and white upside down(颠倒黑白)
  • Turn things upside down(颠倒是非)
  • Jolting and bumping along(颠簸不平)
  • Run around in a frenzy(东跑西颠)
  • Topple and fall(颠扑不破)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted the top of the head or summit, later extended to mean falling or overturning.
  • Used in Buddhist context to describe the unsettled nature of worldly existence.
  • Appears in idioms about chaos and disorder, reflecting cultural values of stability and proper order.

FAQ