叛

pàn

半 + 反

Definitions

pàn to betray; to rebel; to revolt

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 反 represents the meaning and 半 represents the sound.

Semantic: 反 Phonetic: 半

About

叛 is a phono-semantic compound: the left component 半 (bàn, 'half') provides the sound, and the right component 反 (fǎn, 'to turn over, rebel') provides the meaning. The structure originally expressed turning against one's own side, breaking away from a unified group as if cutting ties in half to oppose a former allegiance. Over time, the character has come to denote betrayal, treason, and rebellion: the act of abandoning loyalty to side with an opposing force or to stage an uprising against established authority.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他背叛了朋友。

Tā bèipàn le péngyou.

He betrayed his friend.

这个叛徒被抓住了。

Zhège pàntú bèi zhuā zhù le.

This traitor was caught.

他们策划了一场叛乱。

Tāmen cèhuà le yī chǎng pànluàn.

They planned a rebellion.

背叛国家是不可饶恕的。

Bèipàn guójiā shì bùkě ráoshù de.

Betraying the country is unforgivable.

那个组织内部出现了叛变。

Nàgè zǔzhī nèibù chūxiàn le pànbiàn.

There was a betrayal within that organization.

历史上有许多著名的叛国事件。

Lìshǐ shàng yǒu xǔduō zhùmíng de pànguó shìjiàn.

There are many famous treason events in history.

他因叛逃到敌国而被通缉。

Tā yīn pàntáo dào díguó ér bèi tōngjí.

He was wanted for defecting to the enemy country.

在权力斗争中，叛离原阵营往往需要巨大勇气。

Zài quánlì dòuzhēng zhōng, pànlí yuán zhènyíng wǎngwǎng xūyào jùdà yǒngqì.

In power struggles, defecting from the original camp often requires great courage.

Related Characters

Component: 半

Component: 反

叛