顛
diān
top, peak, summit; overturn, tumble; deranged
Meaning
- Nouns: The highest point or peak; specifically the crown of the head.
- Verbs: To capsize, tumble, flip over, or upset.
- States: Mental derangement, delirium, madness, or extreme confusion (e.g., 顛狂).
Grammar and usage
The verb "to overturn" may be used both transitively (to overturn something) and intransitively (to tumble or fall).
Distinctions
- 顛 vs. 頂 (dǐng): While both can mean "crown" or "summit," 頂 is the standard term for an apex or point of support, whereas 顛 often carries a connotation of precariousness or instability.
- 顛 vs. 倒 (dǎo): Both involve falling, but 顛 specifically suggests a tumbling, rolling, or inverting motion; 倒 is more general and frequently refers to the result of the fall (being prone).
History and forms
Tang-period reading: den. Simplified variant: U+98A0.
Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.