侮

wǔ

亻 + 每

Definitions

wǔ (verb) to insult; to ridicule; to humiliate

Etymology

About

The character 侮 (wǔ) is a phono-semantic compound. The left side features the person radical 亻 (rén), indicating an action involving human interaction, while the right side is the phonetic component 每 (měi). Its core meaning is to treat someone with severe disrespect through words or actions intended to insult, humiliate, or bully. This often implies a power dynamic of dominance or contempt, involving mockery or the violation of personal dignity. The term is widely used in legal and social contexts to describe defamation, bullying, and other offensive conduct that intentionally causes emotional distress or social degradation.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

你不应该侮辱别人。

Nǐ bù yīnggāi wǔrǔ biérén.

You shouldn't insult others.

他经常欺侮同学。

Tā jīngcháng qīwǔ tóngxué.

He often bullies classmates.

因为他的侮辱，我很生气。

Yīnwèi tā de wǔrǔ, wǒ hěn shēngqì.

Because of his insult, I am very angry.

我们决不能轻侮弱者。

Wǒmen jué bù néng qīngwǔ ruòzhě.

We must never disdain the weak.

昨天他公然侮辱了老师。

Zuótiān tā gōngrán wǔrǔle lǎoshī.

Yesterday he publicly insulted the teacher.

如果你继续侮慢他人，就会失去朋友。

Rúguǒ nǐ jìxù wǔmàn tārén, jiù huì shīqù péngyou.

If you continue to disrespect others, you will lose friends.

他被同事的侮辱深深伤害了。

Tā bèi tóngshì de wǔrǔ shēnshēn shānghàile.

He was deeply hurt by his colleague's insult.

任何形式的侮辱都是对人格的不尊重。

Rènhé xíngshì de wǔrǔ dōu shì duì réngé de bù zūnzhòng.

Any form of insult is a disrespect to personality.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 每

侮