荼毒 (tú dú) — (formal) to cause great suffering; to torment; (literary) to persecute (a group of people)
Definition
A literary/formal verb meaning 'to afflict, torment' a group of people. Used in writing about war, tyranny, or persecution — not everyday speech.
verb
(formal) to cause great sufferingto torment(literary) to persecute (a group of people)
Examples
- 荼毒。Lì shǐ shàng xǔ duō bào jūn tú dú bǎi xìng.Many tyrants in history tormented the people.
- 荼毒,。Zhàn zhēng tú dú shēng líng, hé píng lái zhī bú yì.War afflicts all living beings; peace is hard-won.
- 荼毒。Tǒng zhì zhě bù néng yǐ sī yù tú dú mín zhòng.Rulers must not torment the populace for personal desires.
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