恫吓 (dòng hè) — to threaten, to intimidate

Definition

A formal written verb for threatening or intimidating someone through fear, stronger than the everyday 威胁 (wēixié). Mostly used in news, legal, and political contexts, not casual speech.

verb
to threatento intimidate

Examples

  • 恫吓。
    Tā jīng cháng yòng bào lì dòng hè bié rén.
    He often threatens others with violence.
  • 恫吓。
    Zhè zhǒng dòng hè shǒu duàn bú huì yǒu xiào guǒ.
    This kind of intimidation tactic won't be effective.
  • 恫吓。
    Bú yào bèi tā de dòng hè xià dǎo.
    Don't be intimidated by his threats.

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.

恫dòngthreaten
吓xiàscare

恫 and 吓 both carry the sense of scaring or threatening.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
下
下xià吓hè
Same sound today

吓 is built from 口 (mouth) and 下, which gives the sound; the mouth part marks a meaning connected with the mouth.

Open 吓 →

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