ZiMaster Dictionary My decks

Word

颠倒黑白 (diān dǎo hēi bái) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

颠倒黑白 (diān dǎo hēi bái) is a Chinese word: to confuse right and wrong; to distort facts. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 颠倒黑白

成语 chéng yǔ idiom

to confuse right and wrong; to distort facts

媒体不应该颠倒黑白误导公众。

méi tǐ bù yīng gāi diān dǎo hēi bái wù dǎo gōng zhòng

The media should not distort facts and mislead the public.

Log in to add your own translations

Word breakdown

颠 diān — overturn, topple

Words with this character (3)
  • 1 颠倒 diān dǎo — to reverse, to invert, to turn upside down, to confuse HSK 7
    • 颠 top, summit (contributes the sense of overturning from top to bottom)
    • 倒 to fall, to reverse (contributes the sense of inversion and falling over)
    Example

    他把因果关系颠倒了。

    tā bǎ yīn guǒ guān xì diān dǎo le

    He reversed cause and effect.

  • 2 颠簸 diān bǒ — to bump along, to jolt HSK 7
    • 颠 to topple, to bump up and down
    • 簸 to toss, to shake
    Example

    经过几小时的颠簸，我们终于到达了目的地。

    jīng guò jǐ xiǎo shí de diān bǒ wǒ men zhōng yú dào dá le mù dì dì

    After several hours of bumpy travel, we finally reached our destination.

  • 3 颠覆 diān fù — subvert HSK 7
    • 颠 overturn, topple
    • 覆 cover over, overturn
    Example

    这项新技术可能会颠覆整个行业。

    zhè xiàng xīn jì shù kě néng huì diān fù zhěng gè háng yè

    This new technology might subvert the entire industry.

倒 dǎo — reverse, invert

Words with this character (8)
Show more (+3)

黑 hēi — black (representing wrong/evil)

Words with this character (7)
  • 1 黑色 hēi sè — black HSK 2
    • 黑 black (the color)
    • 色 color
    Example

    他穿着黑色的衣服。

    tā chuān zhe hēi sè de yī fu

    He is wearing black clothes.

  • 2 黑板 hēi bǎn — blackboard HSK 3
    • 黑 black (color)
    • 板 board, plank
    Example

    老师在黑板上写字。

    lǎo shī zài hēi bǎn shàng xiě zì

    The teacher writes on the blackboard.

  • 3 黑暗 hēi àn — dark HSK 6
    • 黑 black, contributes the concept of blackness and absence of light
    • 暗 dim/dark, reinforces and intensifies the darkness meaning
    Example

    走廊里很黑暗

    zǒu láng lǐ hěn hēi àn

    The corridor is very dark

  • 4 漆黑 qī hēi — pitch-black HSK 7
    • 漆 lacquer; used as an intensifier meaning 'pitch' or 'extremely'
    • 黑 black; dark
    Example

    外面漆黑，什么都看不见。

    wài miàn qī hēi shén me dōu kàn bù jiàn

    It's pitch-black outside, can't see anything.

  • 5 黑名单 hēi míng dān — blacklist HSK 7
    • 黑 black (indicating something negative or forbidden)
    • 名 name (indicating a list of names or people)
    • 单 list (a roster or registry)
    Example

    他因为违规被加入了黑名单。

    tā yīn wèi wéi guī bèi jiā rù le hēi míng dān

    He was added to the blacklist for violating rules.

Show more (+2)
  • 6 黑客 hēi kè — hacker HSK 7
    • 黑 black/dark, suggesting the underground or illegal nature of unauthorized access
    • 客 guest/visitor, suggesting someone who enters systems uninvited
    Example

    黑客攻击了公司的网络系统。

    hēi kè gōng jī le gōng sī de wǎng luò xì tǒng

    Hackers attacked the company's network system.

  • 7 黑马 hēi mǎ — dark horse HSK 7
    • 黑 black, dark (indicating unexpected or unknown quality)
    • 马 horse (metaphorically: competitor or candidate)
    Example

    这位运动员成为了比赛的黑马。

    zhè wèi yùn dòng yuán chéng wéi le bǐ sài de hēi mǎ

    This athlete became the dark horse of the competition.

白 bái — white (representing right/good)

Words with this character (15)
  • 1 白天 bái tiān — daytime HSK 1
    • 白 bright, light (referring to daylight)
    • 天 day (time period)
    Example

    我白天工作，晚上学习。

    wǒ bái tiān gōng zuò wǎn shang xué xí

    I work during the daytime and study at night.

  • 2 白色 bái sè — white HSK 2
    • 白 white (the color concept)
    • 色 color (specifies it refers to the color)
    Example

    她今天穿了一件白色的衣服。

    tā jīn tiān chuān le yī jiàn bái sè de yī fu

    She wore a white piece of clothing today.

  • 3 明白 míng bai — to understand HSK 3
    • 明 clear, bright (contributes clarity)
    • 白 plain, clear (reinforces clarity)
    Example

    你明白我的意思吗？

    nǐ míng bai wǒ de yì si ma

    Do you understand what I mean?

  • 4 白酒 bái jiǔ — baijiu (Chinese white liquor) HSK 4
    • 白 white/clear (referring to the transparent appearance)
    • 酒 alcohol/liquor (the beverage category)
    Example

    这瓶白酒是我爸爸送的礼物。

    zhè píng bái jiǔ shì wǒ bà ba sòng de lǐ wù

    This bottle of baijiu is a gift from my father.

  • 5 白白 bái bái — in vain HSK 6
    • 白 empty, without result
    • 白 reduplication for emphasis of wastefulness
    Example

    不要白白浪费时间。

    bù yào bái bái làng fèi shí jiān

    Don't waste time in vain.

Show more (+10)
  • 6 白领 bái lǐng — white-collar worker HSK 6
    • 白 white (referring to white dress shirts)
    • 领 collar (of a shirt)
    Example

    他是一个白领，每天在办公室工作。

    tā shì yí gè bái lǐng měi tiān zài bàn gōng shì gōng zuò

    He is a white-collar worker, working in an office every day.

  • 7 蛋白质 dàn bái zhì — protein HSK 6
    • 蛋 egg
    • 白 white (referring to egg white)
    • 质 substance, matter
    Example

    鸡蛋含有丰富的蛋白质。

    jī dàn hán yǒu fēng fù de dàn bái zhì

    Eggs contain abundant protein.

  • 8 坦白 tǎn bái — frank, honest HSK 7
    • 坦 open, candid, frank
    • 白 clear, plain, to reveal
    Example

    他很坦白地承认了错误。

    tā hěn tǎn bái de chéng rèn le cuò wù

    He frankly admitted his mistake.

  • 9 对白 duì bái — dialogue HSK 7
    • 对 reciprocal, facing (indicates back-and-forth exchange)
    • 白 speech, spoken words (the lines being spoken)
    Example

    这部电影的对白写得很精彩。

    zhè bù diàn yǐng de duì bái xiě de hěn jīng cǎi

    The dialogue in this film is written brilliantly.

  • 10 开场白 kāi chǎng bái — opening remarks HSK 7
    • 开 to open, to begin
    • 场 occasion, venue, scene
    • 白 speech, words, remarks
    Example

    主持人的开场白很幽默。

    zhǔ chí rén de kāi chǎng bái hěn yōu mò

    The host's opening remarks were very humorous.

  • 11 惨白 cǎn bái — deathly pale HSK 7
    • 惨 intensifies the paleness to a tragic, extreme, or disturbing degree
    • 白 provides the base meaning of white or pale color
    Example

    她听到噩耗后脸色变得惨白。

    tā tīng dào è hào hòu liǎn sè biàn de cǎn bái

    Her face turned deathly pale after hearing the bad news.

  • 12 洁白 jié bái — pure white HSK 7
    • 洁 clean, pure, spotless
    • 白 white
    Example

    她穿着一件洁白的连衣裙。

    tā chuān zhe yī jiàn jié bái de lián yī qún

    She wore a pure white dress.

  • 13 空白 kòng bái — blank HSK 7
    Example

    这份表格有很多空白需要填写。

    zhè fèn biǎo gé yǒu hěn duō kòng bái xū yào tián xiě

    This form has many blanks that need to be filled in.

  • 14 苍白 cāng bái — pale HSK 7
    • 苍 ashen, gray (suggesting unhealthy color)
    • 白 white, pale (lightness of color)
    Example

    她的脸色苍白，看起来很虚弱。

    tā de liǎn sè cāng bái kàn qǐ lái hěn xū ruò

    Her complexion is pale, she looks very weak.

  • 15 表白 biǎo bái — to confess one's feelings HSK 7
    • 表 to express, to show outwardly
    • 白 clear, openly, plainly
    Example

    他终于鼓起勇气向她表白了。

    tā zhōng yú gǔ qǐ yǒng qì xiàng tā biǎo bái le

    He finally mustered the courage to confess his feelings to her.

Structure & writing
1 颠 diān — top of something tall and upright
颠 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 7
巅 diān mountain peak; summit

consists of

1.1 真 zhēn — real; genuine (corresponding to objective facts)
真 is a component in 4 characters
HSK 4
填 tián to fill up or level a hollow place
HSK 5
慎 shèn careful, cautious
HSK 6
镇 zhèn to suppress; to control
HSK 7
颠 diān top of something tall and upright
1.2 页 yè — page, sheet (of a book, painting, paper, etc.)
页 is a component in 26 characters
HSK 1
题 tí title; heading of a poem, essay, or speech
HSK 2
颜 yán facial expression; countenance
HSK 3
须 xū must; necessary (auxiliary verb) 顾 gù to turn and look; to look at
HSK 4
烦 fán vexed, irritated 硕 shuò large; tall and big 项 xiàng (lit.) back of the neck/nape 顺 shùn facing the same direction; opposite of 逆 顿 dùn to pause briefly
Show more HSK 4 characters (+2)
预 yù in advance; beforehand 频 pín repeatedly; frequently; many times in succession
HSK 5
领 lǐng neck; throat 颗 kē measure word for small, round or granular objects
HSK 6
顶 dǐng the top or highest part of a person or object 顽 wán stupid; ignorant 颖 yǐng awn-bearing husk of certain grasses (e.g. rice, wheat) 额 é forehead (of a person or animal)
HSK 7
嚣 xiāo noisy; clamorous 顷 qǐng unit of area equal to 100 亩 (approx. 6.6667 hectares) 颁 bān to issue; to promulgate 颂 sòng to praise, to extol someone's virtues 颇 pō (lit.) biased; not upright
Show more HSK 7 characters (+4)
颊 jiá cheek; the part of the face below the cheekbone 颓 tuí to collapse, to crumble 颠 diān top of something tall and upright 颤 chàn to tremble; to shiver

Stroke order

2 倒 dǎo — to fall down; to topple over
Xpinyin

倒 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 亻 rén — person/human radical (standing figure)
亻 is a component in 117 characters
HSK 1
什 shén see "什么": ① interrogative pronoun; ② indefinite reference; ③ universal reference (used before 也/都); ④ surprise or dissatisfaction; ⑤ reproach; ⑥ disagreement; ⑦ non-exhaustive enumeration 他 tā third-person pronoun, generally male, sometimes gender-neutral (he/him; they) 们 men suffix added to pronouns or nouns referring to people to indicate plural 件 jiàn measure word for individual items 休 xiū to stop; to cease (something)
Show more HSK 1 characters (+6)
住 zhù to reside; to stay (permanently or temporarily) 作 zuò to work; to make; to produce 你 nǐ you (second person singular pronoun) 便 biàn convenient; to make convenient, smooth, without difficulty or obstruction 候 hòu to wait; to await 做 zuò to make; to manufacture (a physical object)
HSK 2
但 dàn only, merely 位 wèi position; location 体 tǐ the whole body of a person or animal; by extension, a part of the body 游 yóu unfixed; constantly moving
HSK 3
信 xìn letter; written message 借 jiè to borrow (something to be returned later) 假 jiǎ false; fake; not genuine, opposite of "真" 健 jiàn to strengthen; to make robust 像 xiàng portrait, image, or sculpture made in the likeness of a person or object
Show more HSK 3 characters (+2)
化 huà to change in nature or form; to transform 复 fù to repeat; to do more than once
HSK 4
仅 jǐn only; merely 仍 réng still; as before; unchanged 仔 zǎi (dial.) young man 付 fù to submit; to hand over 价 jià price; the monetary value of goods
Show more HSK 4 characters (+20)
任 rèn to appoint; to assign to a post 份 fèn a portion or share of a whole divided into parts 优 yōu excellent; superior (opposite of 劣) 伙 huǒ meals; food provisions 估 gū to estimate, to reckon approximately 低 dī low (opposite of 'high'); close to the ground 何 hé interrogative pronoun: ① what ② where ③ why 使 shǐ to dispatch; to order about 例 lì example; instance used as a reference or model 供 gōng to supply; to provide money or goods for those in need 保 bǎo to guard and protect from harm or loss 俩 liǎ two (cannot be followed by 个 or other measure words) 倍 bèi a multiple; a number equal to another multiplied by a given factor 倒 dǎo to fall down; to topple over 值 zhí price; value; numerical value 停 tíng to stop, to cease moving 偶 ǒu idol; figure made of wood or clay 傅 fù (lit.) to assist; to instruct 傲 ào arrogant; proud 夜 yè night (from dusk to dawn), opposite of '日'/'昼'
HSK 5
亿 yì one hundred million 代 dài to substitute; to replace 仿 fǎng to imitate; to follow as a model 伍 wǔ a military unit of five soldiers in ancient times; now refers to the army in general 伟 wěi great; sublime; inspiring reverence
Show more HSK 5 characters (+16)
传 chuán to pass from one party to another; to hand down from generation to generation 伴 bàn companion; partner 伸 shēn to stretch out; to extend 似 sì to resemble; to be like 佛 fó Buddha (abbrev. of Sanskrit transliteration '佛陀'); esp. Shakyamuni, founder of Buddhism 佳 jiā beautiful, good 依 yī to lean on; to rely on, to depend on 促 cù short (of time) 俗 sú custom; social habit or convention formed over time 倡 chàng to initiate; to advocate 傍 bàng to be close to; to be beside 催 cuī to urge; to press someone to act quickly 傻 shǎ foolish, stupid 宿 sù to lodge; to spend the night; to sleep overnight 拖 tuō to drag (an object along a surface) 施 shī to implement; to exert
HSK 6
仗 zhàng general term for ancient weapons 仪 yí appearance and bearing; demeanor 仰 yǎng face upward (opposite of 俯, to face downward) 佩 pèi to wear (on one's person); to carry at one's side 侄 zhí nephew (son of a brother or male peer; also used for a friend's son)
Show more HSK 6 characters (+6)
侧 cè side; lateral (opposite of 'front/upright') 俱 jù all, entirely 倾 qīng to tilt; to lean 偷 tōu to steal; to take something without the owner's knowledge 偿 cháng to repay; to compensate 储 chǔ to save, to store up
HSK 7
仁 rén benevolence; the Confucian moral concept centered on compassion, love, and altruism 仆 pú servant hired to do household chores 仇 chóu enemy; foe 仙 xiān immortal; a person with supernatural abilities in mythology 仲 zhòng second among siblings (after 伯, before 叔)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+33)
伏 fú to lean forward onto something; to lie face down, prostrate 伐 fá to chop (a tree); to fell 伦 lún generation; kind; category 伪 wěi false; fake; deceitful (opposite of 真) 伯 bó uncle (father's elder brother) 伺 sì to watch; to lie in wait 佑 yòu to assist and protect 佣 yōng to hire or be hired 侃 kǎn (lit.) upright and forthright 侈 chǐ wasteful; extravagant 侍 shì to serve, attend upon, wait on someone 侠 xiá a chivalrous person or act of helping the oppressed through personal strength 侣 lǚ companion; partner 侥 jiǎo 见"侥幸": to gain benefit or avoid misfortune by chance 侦 zhēn to spy; to secretly investigate or scout 侨 qiáo to reside abroad 侮 wǔ to bully, to treat with contempt 侵 qīn to invade, to encroach on others' rights 俊 jùn handsome; good-looking (opposite of ugly) 俏 qiào handsome; good-looking; nimble and graceful 俘 fú prisoner of war; captive 俭 jiǎn frugal, thrifty (opposite of 奢) 俯 fǔ to bow one's head, face downward (opposite of 仰) 倔 juè straightforward in character, blunt in speech 倘 tǎng if; supposing that 倚 yǐ to lean against 倦 juàn tired, weary 债 zhài debt (money owed to others) 偏 piān not straight; off-center; tilted (opposite of 正) 僚 liáo government official 僧 sēng Buddhist monk 僵 jiāng stiff, rigid (of limbs) 僻 pì remote, far from the center
2.2 到 dào — to arrive; to reach
到 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 4
倒 dǎo to fall down; to topple over

Stroke order

3 黑 hēi — black (color, opposite of white)
黑 is a component in 3 characters
HSK 4
默 mò to be silent, make no sound (reduplicated)
HSK 6
嘿 hēi hey (greeting or to get attention)
HSK 7
墨 mò ink stick (made from soot or pine smoke); also the liquid ink made by grinding it with water

黑 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

4 白 bái — white (color like snow or milk, opposite of black)
白 is a component in 19 characters
HSK 1
百 bǎi hundred (the number 100) 的 de structural particle used after an attributive: ① general modifier before a noun ② possessive modifier ③ attributive is a person's name or pronoun, head noun is a role or identity ④ head noun combines with a preceding verb to express an action, attributive is the object of that action
HSK 3
怕 pà to fear; to be afraid of 拍 pāi to slap or pat with the palm or a flat object 泉 quán spring water
HSK 4
貌 mào appearance, looks
HSK 6
皇 huáng monarch; emperor 迫 pò to compel; to force
HSK 7
伯 bó uncle (father's elder brother) 卑 bēi low; lowly 帕 pà small square cloth for wiping hands or face; handkerchief 柏 bǎi cypress tree, an evergreen with scale-like leaves and cone fruits; hard wood used as building material 泊 bó to moor a boat; to dock
Show more HSK 7 characters (+6)
皂 zào black (color) 皆 jiē all; everyone 碧 bì (lit.) blue-green jade 粕 pò dregs left over from brewing wine 舶 bó large oceangoing vessel 魄 pò the corporeal soul (in superstition, the spirit attached to the body)

白 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order