非难 (fēi nàn) — to blame, to censure, to reproach (formal, written)

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to censure / reproach' — stronger than 批评 (criticize) and used in serious contexts like political commentary or academic writing.

verb
to blameto censureto reproach (formal, written)

Examples

  • 非难。
    Tā de jué dìng zāo dào le hěn duō rén de fēi nàn.
    His decision was met with a lot of criticism from many people.
  • 非难。
    Zài gōng kāi chǎng hé fēi nàn bié rén shì bù lǐ mào de.
    It is impolite to censure others in public.
  • 非难。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng duì zhèng fǔ de zhèng cè tí chū le yán lì de fēi nàn.
    This article levels severe reproach at the government's policy.

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.

非fēiblame
难nánreproach

非 and 难 both mean blame or reproach, giving the sense of censure.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 非 is drawn from two wings facing opposite directions. It later came to be used for going against or not being.

Open 非 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 難; 难 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
暵
暵hàn難nán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 難 pairs 隹, a bird, with 暵 for sound, and meant a type of bird. It was later borrowed for other meanings; the modern 难 is a shorthand.

Open 难 →

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