faan1 on3翻案
Jyutpingfaan1 on3
Yalefāan on
Definition
To overturn a previous negative judgment or verdict, especially to vindicate someone.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
While often used in legal contexts to mean overturning a court judgment, it is frequently applied metaphorically to restoring someone's reputation or correcting a historical misunderstanding. It carries a strong sense of justice being served after a period of being wrongly accused or judged. Unlike simple appeals, it implies a complete reversal of a previously accepted negative narrative.
Examples
He was framed back then, and now he can finally clear his name.
Do you think there is still a chance to overturn the verdict for this case?
Related words
Common phrases
successfully overturn a verdict
demand a retrial or reversal
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 翻身, which refers to turning one's life around or recovering from a financial or social slump. 翻案 specifically requires an existing, formal, or public judgment that needs to be officially reversed.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
