Chinese word

得罪

Pronunciation

Pinyindé zuì

Meaning

  • verboffend

Example

如果我得罪你，请告诉我。rú guǒ wǒ dé zuì nǐ qǐng gào sù wǒ

If I offend you, please tell me.

Illustration for 得罪 (offend)

More examples

别轻易得罪客户，他们可能会停止合作。bié qīng yì dé zuì kè hù tā men kě néng huì tíng zhǐ hé zuò

Don't casually offend clients; they may stop doing business with you.

Core concept

Creating personal friction by making someone feel that their dignity or feelings have not been respected.

Common phrases

  • 得罪人dé zuì rén

    offend people

  • 得罪老板dé zuì láo bǎn

    offend the boss

  • 得罪客户dé zuì kè hù

    offend clients

Similar words

冒犯mào fàn: Treat someone disrespectfully and damage their sense of dignity or status.
惹怒rě nù: Provoke someone's anger through something said or done.

Definition in Chinese

使他人感到被冒犯或不悦，通常指因言语或行为伤害对方的尊严或感情。shǐ tā rén gǎn dào bèi mào fàn huò bú yuè tōng cháng zhǐ yīn yán yǔ huò xíng wéi shāng hài duì fāng de zūn yán huò gǎn qíng

Word origin

得 (dé, "incur") + 罪 (zuì, "blame") creates the image of taking on blame, which gives the compound a clear path to its modern interpersonal sense.

Usage tips

  • This verb focuses on the effect on a relationship, so an accidental remark can still be described with it even when no harm was intended; intention and result remain separate.

Other meanings

  • be rude toverb
  • insultverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word