About
The character 虐, conveying meanings of cruelty and oppression, is etymologically composed of the radical 虍, symbolizing a tiger, and an element representing a claw or hand, which together illustrate a tiger's ferocious assault to encapsulate ideas of brutality and tyranny. Originally denoting physical violence, its semantic range gradually extended to include various forms of maltreatment, both concrete and abstract, as seen in compounds like 虐待 (to maltreat) and 暴虐 (despotic). Throughout its history, while the graphical structure of 虐 has persisted without major alteration, its conceptual usage has evolved to encompass not only direct physical harm but also psychological, social, and systemic forms of cruelty, reflecting a consistent thematic core related to the infliction of suffering.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我们反对虐待动物。
这部电影很虐心。
他受到虐待后报警了。
虐童行为必须受到法律严惩。
暴虐的统治终于被推翻了。
这种自虐的行为不利于健康。
历史上有些君主以虐杀为乐。
防止虐待老年人是社会的重要责任。