颠覆

diānfù · HSK 7

overturn

🙃 diān-fù sounds like DEAN FLEW — the dean flew off his throne, overturned

颠 (diān) means top/summit or to fall, 覆 (fù) means to cover or to overturn. Together: topple what covers you. A dean who flew off his seat lost all authority — subverted.

More Chinese words · How Chinese works