Chinese word

冒犯

Pronunciation

Pinyinmào fàn

Meaning

  • verboffend

Example

别想冒犯老师，他很严格。bié xiǎng mào fàn lǎo shī tā hěn yán gé

Don't try to offend the teacher; he is very strict.

Illustration for 冒犯 (offend)

More examples

他的评论有时候会冒犯一些群体。tā de píng lùn yǒu shí hòu huì mào fàn yì xiē qún tǐ

His comments sometimes offend some groups.

Core concept

Words or actions that cross another person's protected line of respect.

Common phrases

  • 冒犯别人mào fàn bié rén

    offend others

  • 无意中冒犯别人wú yì zhōng mào fàn bié rén

    inadvertently offend others

  • 冒犯上司mào fàn shàng sī

    offend one's boss

Similar words

得罪dé zuì: Displease someone through rude or unsuitable words or behavior.
侮辱wú rǔ: Insult someone by belittling or damaging their dignity through words or actions.
触犯chù fàn: Offend someone's feelings or beliefs and cause anger or resentment.

Definition in Chinese

以言语或举止违反对方的礼节或触及其尊严，使对方感到被冒犯或不被尊重的动作或表现。yǐ yán yǔ huò jú zhǐ wéi fǎn duì fāng de lǐ jié huò chù jí qí zūn yán shǐ duì fāng gǎn dào bèi mào fàn huò bú bèi zūn zhòng de dòng zuò huò biǎo xiàn

Word origin

冒犯 (màofàn, "to offend") is formed from 冒 (mào, "to go beyond") and 犯 (fàn, "to violate"), a combination that links the word to crossing a social or personal boundary.

Usage tips

  • The word can describe a question, joke, gesture, or remark even when no harm was intended, because the focus is on the breach of respect and its effect on the other person.

Other meanings

  • be rude toverb
  • insultverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 冒犯者mào fàn zhěoffendernoun

Word lists with this word