革命 (gémìng) literally means 'to change one's mandate' or 'to replace the old order' — 革 (gé) means 'to remove, to change, or to strip away', and 命 (mìng) originally refers to 'mandate', 'decree', or 'fate', especially in the classical phrase 天命 (tiānmìng, 'Mandate of Heaven'). Together, they convey a fundamental, often political or social, transformation that overthrows an established system.

The term is most commonly used in historical and political contexts — such as the 1911 Xinhai Revolution (Xīnhài Gémìng) that ended imperial rule, or the Chinese Communist Revolution (Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Gémìng). It can also appear metaphorically in modern usage (e.g., a 'technological revolution'), but retains strong connotations of radical, systemic change rather than mere reform. It is formal and weighty, rarely used for small-scale or personal changes.