Definitions

ōu (verb) to beat up; to hit

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

殴 is the simplified form of the traditional character 毆, a phono-semantic compound. Its right side features the radical 殳 (shū), depicting a weapon or the act of striking, which conveys the character's association with violence. The left side in the traditional form, 區 (qū, area), served as the phonetic component; this was simplified in the modern version while the striking radical was retained. The character's meaning has consistently centered on physical violence, encompassing fighting, beating, and assault. It frequently appears in legal and formal contexts pertaining to brawls, physical attacks, and intentional bodily harm.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

打了那个人。

Tā ōudǎle nàgè rén.

He assaulted that person.

两名男子在街上互相打。

Liǎng míng nánzǐ zài jiē shàng hùxiāng ōudǎ.

Two men were fighting each other on the street.

他被指控打他人。

Tā bèi zhǐkòng ōudǎ tārén.

He was accused of assaulting others.

酒后斗是违法行为。

Jiǔ hòu dòu'ōu shì wéifǎ xíngwéi.

Fighting after drinking is illegal behavior.

他被一群人围住并遭到打。

Tā bèi yī qún rén wéi zhù bìng zāodào ōudǎ.

He was surrounded by a group of people and was beaten.

警察迅速制止了这场斗。

Jǐngchá xùnsù zhìzhǐle zhè chǎng ōudòu.

The police quickly stopped this fight.

任何形式的家庭暴力都包括身体上的打。

Rènhé xíngshì de jiātíng bàolì dōu bāokuò shēntǐ shàng de ōudǎ.

Any form of domestic violence includes physical assault.

他的挑衅行为最终引发了一场斗。

Tā de tiǎoxìn xíngwéi zuìzhōng yǐnfāle yī chǎng ōudòu.

His provocative behavior ultimately sparked a brawl.