Chinese word

暴力

Pronunciation

Pinyinbào lì

Meaning

  • nounviolence

Example

不要用暴力解决问题。bú yào yòng bào lì jiě jué wèn tí

Don't use violence to solve problems.

Illustration for 暴力 (violence)

More examples

电影中常出现暴力场面，家长应注意。diàn yǐng zhōng cháng chū xiàn bào lì chǎng miàn jiā zhǎng yīng zhù yì

Movies often contain scenes of violence, so parents should take note.

Core concept

Power turned against others to produce fear, injury, or obedience instead of cooperation.

Common phrases

  • 家庭暴力jiā tíng bào lì

    domestic violence

  • 使用暴力shǐ yòng bào lì

    use violence

  • 暴力事件bào lì shì jiàn

    violent incident

Similar words

暴行bào xíng: A direct physical assault that injures another person.
伤害shāng hài: Damage or pain caused to a person's body or mind.
攻击gōng jī: An attack that uses force or weapons to cause harm.
威胁wēi xié: A threat made through words or behavior to create fear or warn of harm.

Definition in Chinese

以强制、威胁或身体力量对他人造成伤害、恐惧或控制的行为，通常含有非法或侵害性成分。yǐ qiáng zhì wēi xié huò shēn tǐ lì liàng duì tā rén zào chéng shāng hài kǒng jù huò kòng zhì de xíng wéi tōng cháng hán yǒu fēi fǎ huò qīn hài xìng chéng fèn

Word origin

暴 (bào, "violent") + 力 (lì, "strength") forms a compound for strength used in a harsh, coercive way.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this noun can cover threats and coercion even when no injury occurs, so an English sentence should not assume that visible harm is required.

Other meanings

  • assaultnoun
  • armed forcenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 家庭暴力jiā tíng bào lìdomestic violencenoun
  • 暴力犯罪bào lì fàn zuìviolent crimenoun
  • 暴力化bào lì huàturn violentverb

Word lists with this word