Definitions

nvè (bound form) brutal; oppressive; harsh; (literary) disaster; catastrophe

Etymology

Depicts a tiger () attacking a person ().

About

The character "虐" is structured with the radical "虍" representing a tiger and the component "𧾷" implying oppressive action, deriving from early concepts of cruelty associated with ferocious behavior. Its original meaning centered on tyrannical rule or severe maltreatment, often in a governing context. Over time, the semantic scope expanded to include various forms of abuse or harshness, as reflected in modern compounds like "虐待" for maltreatment.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们反对待动物。

wǒ men fǎn duì nüè dài dòng wù。

We oppose animal abuse.

这部电影很心。

zhè bù diàn yǐng hěn nüè xīn。

This movie is very heart-wrenching.

他受到待后报警了。

tā shòu dào nüè dài hòu bào jǐng le。

He called the police after being abused.

童行为必须受到法律严惩。

nüè tóng xíng wéi bì xū shòu dào fǎ lǜ yán chéng。

Child abuse must be severely punished by law.

的统治终于被推翻了。

bào nüè de tǒng zhì zhōng yú bèi tuī fān le。

The tyrannical rule was finally overthrown.

这种自的行为不利于健康。

zhè zhǒng zì nüè de xíng wéi bù lì yú jiàn kāng。

This kind of self-abusive behavior is not good for health.

历史上有些君主以杀为乐。

lì shǐ shàng yǒu xiē jūn zhǔ yǐ nüè shā wéi lè。

In history, some monarchs enjoyed killing cruelly.

防止待老年人是社会的重要责任。

fáng zhǐ nüè dài lǎo nián rén shì shè huì de zhòng yào zé rèn。

Preventing the abuse of the elderly is an important social responsibility.