奸淫 (jiān yín) — (formal) to rape; (formal) to commit illicit sexual relations (seduction, adultery)

Definition

Formal/legal term for non-consensual or illicit sexual acts. In modern legal usage it specifically means 'to rape'; the broader sense of adultery or seduction is archaic and rarely seen outside set phrases.

verb
(formal) to rape(formal) to commit illicit sexual relations (seduction, adultery)

Examples

  • 奸淫。
    Fǎ lǜ yán chéng jiān yín fù nǚ de zuì xíng.
    The law severely punishes the crime of raping women.
  • 奸淫。
    Lì shǐ shàng jì zǎi le duō cì jiān yín lǔ lüè de shì jiàn.
    History records many incidents of rape and plunder.
  • 奸淫。
    Zhè zhǒng jiān yín xíng wéi lìng rén fà zhǐ.
    This kind of illicit sexual behavior is outrageous.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

奸jiānillicit
淫yínlicentious

奸 and 淫 both concern illicit sexual acts, reinforcing the meaning.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚ
Sound part声符shēngfú
干
干gān奸jiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

奸 is written with 女 (woman) on the left and 干 on the right; the evidence says 干 gives the sound and 女 marks the meaning.

Open 奸 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㸒
㸒㸒淫yín
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape combines 氵 (the water form of 水) with 㸒, which supplies the sound.

Open 淫 →

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