革命 gémìng to withdraw the mandate of heaven
to withdraw the mandate of heaven (and transition to a new dynasty) (original meaning); revolution; revolutionary; to revolt (against somebody or something); to revolutionize (something); separable verb sometimes used in the pattern 革noun的命
How to remember 革命: 革 leather + 命 life = to withdraw the mandate of heaven.
Characters
How it is used
- Revolution; revolutionary - 工业革命 (gōngyè gémìng) the Industrial Revolution, 革命精神 (gémìng jīngshén) revolutionary spirit.
- Political/social overthrow and, by extension, any radical transformation (技术革命, a tech revolution).
- Can be separable: 革...的命 (gé...de mìng), literally "revoke someone's mandate."
Example sentences
- 法国大革命1789年开始。 Fǎguó dàgémìng 1789nián kāishǐ.The French Revolution began in 1789.
- 这场革命已经带来了很多改变。 Zhèchǎng gémìng yǐjīng dàilái le hěnduō gǎibiàn.The revolution has brought about many changes.