颠

顛

diān

真 + 页

Definitions

diān (noun) top; apex

diān (verb) to fall forward; to overturn

diān (verb) to jolt; to shake

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 页 represents the meaning and 眞 represents the sound. Simplified form of 顛.

Semantic: 页 Phonetic: 真

About

Originally referring to the top of the head, 颠 is a phonosemantic compound composed of 真 (sound) on the left and 页 (meaning) on the right. 页, the simplified form of 頁, relates to the head, and the traditional character is 顛. From this literal anatomical sense, the meaning extended to the summit of mountains and other high points, then developed verbal uses for falling, toppling, or being turned upside down. This shift from a physical peak to actions of instability persists in modern compound words denoting both literal heights and metaphorical unsteadiness.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

车子在颠簸的路上行驶。

Chēzi zài diānbǒ de lùshàng xíngshǐ.

The car is driving on a bumpy road.

他把杯子放颠倒了。

Tā bǎ bēizi fàng diāndǎo le.

He placed the cup upside down.

这个故事颠覆了我的想法。

Zhège gùshi diānfù le wǒ de xiǎngfǎ.

This story overturned my thoughts.

船在风浪中颠簸得很厉害。

Chuán zài fēnglàng zhōng diānbǒ de hěn lìhai.

The ship is tossing badly in the wind and waves.

新证据可能颠覆整个案件。

Xīn zhèngjù kěnéng diānfù zhěnggè ànjiàn.

New evidence might overturn the entire case.

经过多年的颠簸，他的事业终于稳定下来。

Jīngguò duōnián de diānbǒ, tā de shìyè zhōngyú wěndìng xiàlái.

After years of turbulence, his career finally stabilized.

地震导致地面剧烈颠簸。

Dìzhèn dǎozhì dìmiàn jùliè diānbǒ.

The earthquake caused the ground to shake violently.

他的理论颠覆了传统的物理学观念。

Tā de lǐlùn diānfù le chuántǒng de wùlǐxué guānniàn.

His theory overturned traditional concepts in physics.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 真

Component: 页

颠