Chinese word

违背

Pronunciation

Pinyinwéi bèi

Meaning

  • verbgo against

Example

我不想违背你的意愿。wǒ bù xiǎng wéi bèi nǐ de yì yuàn

I don't want to go against your wishes.

Illustration for 违背 (go against)

More examples

这种行为明显违背法律。zhè zhǒng xíng wéi míng xiǎn wéi bèi fǎ lǜ

This behavior clearly violates the law.

Core concept

An action or idea faces in the opposite direction from what a person, rule, or principle calls for.

Common phrases

  • 违背法律wéi bèi fǎ lǜ

    violate the law

  • 违背道德wéi bèi dào dé

    violate morality

  • 违背事实wéi bèi shì shí

    contradict the facts

Similar words

违反wéi fǎn: Disobeying a law, rule, or contract.
背离bèi lí: Departing from the original direction or from an accepted standard.
违抗wéi kàng: Rejecting an order or instruction and refusing to follow it.
抵触dǐ chù: Clashing with an opinion, interest, or regulation because the two do not fit together.

Definition in Chinese

表示个体的行为或想法与某一要求、期望或原则相反，带有违抗或不遵从的含义。biǎo shì gè tǐ de xíng wéi huò xiáng fǎ yǔ mǒu yì yāo qiú qī wàng huò yuán zé xiāng fǎn dài yǒu wéi kàng huò bù zūn cóng de hán yì

Word origin

违 (wéi, "deviate from") + 背 (bèi, "turn one's back") create a compound that links disobedience with the physical image of facing away.

Usage tips

  • The word is not limited to spoken disagreement; its subject may be conduct or a thought, so it also describes choices and attitudes.

Other meanings

  • violateverb
  • contradictverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word