Chinese word

迫害

Pronunciation

Pinyinpò hài

Meaning

  • verbpersecute

Example

他们因为信仰被迫害。tā men yīn wèi xìn yǎng bèi pò hài

They were persecuted for their faith.

Illustration for 迫害 (persecute)

More examples

历史上很多信仰不同的小群体曾被迫害。lì shǐ shàng hěn duō xìn yǎng bù tóng de xiǎo qún tǐ céng bèi pò hài

Many small groups with different beliefs have been persecuted throughout history.

Core concept

A force that keeps closing in on a person or group, causing harm and restricting their rights and participation.

Common phrases

  • 迫害少数民族pò hài shǎo shù mín zú

    persecute ethnic minorities

  • 迫害宗教团体pò hài zōng jiào tuán tǐ

    persecute religious groups

Similar words

压迫yā pò: To use power to control people and restrict their freedom or activities.
虐待nüè dài: To treat a person or animal cruelly, causing physical or emotional harm.
歧视qí shì: To treat a person or group unfairly because of race, gender, religion, or another identity.
排斥pái chì: To exclude a person, group, or idea and keep it from joining or coming close.

Definition in Chinese

对某人或某群体施加强制、伤害或歧视，使其处于受压迫、失去权利或被排斥状态的行为。duì mǒu rén huò mǒu qún tǐ shī jiā qiáng zhì shāng hài huò qí shì shǐ qí chǔ yú shòu yā pò shī qù quán lì huò bèi pái chì zhuàng tài de xíng wéi

Word origin

In 迫害 (pòhài, "to persecute"), 迫 (pò, "to press") supplies the sense of inescapable pressure and 害 (hài, "to harm") supplies its damaging result.

Usage tips

  • Chinese can leave the agent unspoken when it is unknown or not important, but naming the affected person or group keeps reports of such treatment precise.

Other meanings

  • persecutionnoun
  • repressionnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 迫害者pò hài zhěpersecutornoun

Word lists with this word