劾

hé

亥 + 力

Definitions

hé to impeach

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 力 represents the meaning and 亥 represents the sound.

Semantic: 力 Phonetic: 亥

About

劾 is a phono-semantic compound: the right-side radical 力 (power, strength) suggests an action requiring forceful effort, while the left-side component 亥 represents the sound. Its original meaning was the thorough investigation of crimes, interrogation of suspects, and relentless pursuit of the truth in legal matters, activities demanding forceful judicial authority. Over time, the meaning narrowed to the formal impeachment or accusation of a government official, reporting their offenses to higher authorities; it became a specialized term for denouncing misconduct, corruption, or dereliction of duty within the bureaucracy.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

国会弹劾了官员。

Guóhuì tánhé le guānyuán.

Congress impeached the official.

弹劾过程需要证据。

Tánhé guòchéng xūyào zhèngjù.

The impeachment process requires evidence.

他被弹劾是因为贪污。

Tā bèi tánhé shì yīnwèi tānwū.

He was impeached because of corruption.

弹劾案在议会中引起了激烈辩论。

Tánhé àn zài yìhuì zhōng yǐnqǐ le jīliè biànlùn.

The impeachment case sparked fierce debate in parliament.

如果总统违法，国会可以启动弹劾程序。

Rúguǒ zǒngtǒng wéifǎ, guóhuì kěyǐ qǐdòng tánhé chéngxù.

If the president breaks the law, Congress can initiate impeachment proceedings.

弹劾的成功取决于多数议员的支持。

Tánhé de chénggōng qǔjué yú duōshù yìyuán de zhīchí.

The success of impeachment depends on the support of a majority of legislators.

尽管证据确凿，弹劾投票仍未能通过。

Jǐnguǎn zhèngjù quèzáo, tánhé tóupiào réng wèi néng tōngguò.

Despite conclusive evidence, the impeachment vote still failed to pass.

弹劾制度是宪法中制约权力的重要机制。

Tánhé zhìdù shì xiànfǎ zhōng zhìyuē quánlì de zhòngyào jīzhì.

The impeachment system is an important mechanism in the constitution for checking power.

Related Characters

Component: 亥

Component: 力

劾