Meaning
变节 refers to the act of betraying one's principles, political party, or cause, especially by switching sides to join the opposition. It carries strong negative connotations of disloyalty and moral failure, often used in political or wartime contexts when someone abandons their original allegiance.
Usage
This is a formal, literary term with serious negative judgment. It's commonly used in historical narratives, political commentary, or dramatic contexts to describe traitors or defectors. Native speakers would not use this casually; it implies a severe breach of loyalty and is often paired with words like 叛徒 (traitor) or 投敌 (defect to the enemy).
Examples
- 01他在关键时刻变节，投靠了敌人。, .He turned traitor at the critical moment and went over to the enemy.
- 02这个变节分子出卖了组织的机密。.This defector betrayed the organization's secrets.
Characters
Common collocations
- 变节分子turncoat, defector
- 变节投敌to defect to the enemy
Antonyms
Origin
The word literally means 'to change one's integrity/principles.' 节 historically referred to moral integrity and steadfastness, so 变节 describes the transformation or abandonment of one's principled stance.