Chinese word

侮辱

Pronunciation

Pinyinwǔ rǔ

Meaning

  • verbinsult

Example

不要侮辱别人。bú yào wú rǔ bié rén

Do not insult others.

Illustration for 侮辱 (insult)

More examples

律师指控对方当庭侮辱证人。lǜ shī zhǐ kòng duì fāng dāng tíng wú rǔ zhèng rén

The lawyer accused the other side of insulting the witness in court.

Core concept

Contempt directed at a person until the person feels attacked, dishonored, or stripped of standing.

Common phrases

  • 当众侮辱他人dāng zhòng wú rǔ tā rén

    publicly insult others

  • 口头侮辱他人kǒu tóu wú rǔ tā rén

    insult others verbally

  • 在网络上侮辱别人zài wǎng luò shàng wú rǔ bié rén

    insult others on the Internet

Similar words

辱骂rǔ mà: To curse at someone and verbally abuse them.
羞辱xiū rǔ: To cause someone shame while attacking their sense of dignity.
嘲笑cháo xiào: To ridicule someone by laughing at their actions or shortcomings.
轻视qīng shì: To regard someone as having little importance or value.

Definition in Chinese

用言语或行为贬低他人，使对方感到被羞辱或丧失尊严。yòng yán yǔ huò xíng wéi biǎn dī tā rén shǐ duì fāng gǎn dào bèi xiū rǔ huò sàng shī zūn yán

Word origin

侮辱 (wǔrǔ, "to insult") is built from 侮 (wǔ, "contemptuous treatment") and 辱 (rǔ, "dishonor"), so the compound connects scorn with an experience of humiliation.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may expect insult to describe only speech, but this Chinese verb also covers conduct that degrades a person.

Other meanings

  • humiliateverb
  • shameverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 侮辱者wú rǔ zhěinsulternoun
  • 侮辱罪wú rǔ zuìcriminal insultnoun

Word lists with this word