奸污 (jiān wū) — to rape, to sexually violate

Definition

A formal, written term for rape or sexual violation, used mainly in legal and journalistic contexts (e.g. 法律严惩奸污行为). Strongly pejorative — far harsher than 诱奸 ('to seduce/deceive into sex') and limited to non-consensual assault.

verb
to rapeto sexually violate

Examples

  • 奸污。
    Tā yīn jiān wū fù nǚ bèi pàn chǔ shí nián yǒu qī tú xíng.
    He was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping a woman.
  • 奸污。
    Fǎ lǜ yán chéng rèn hé jiān wū xíng wéi.
    The law severely punishes any act of rape.
  • 奸污。
    Zhè qǐ jiān wū àn jiàn yǐn qǐ le shè huì de guǎng fàn guān zhù.
    This rape case has drawn widespread attention from society.

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jiānrape
污wūdefile

奸 and 污 both convey violation, together meaning to rape or defile.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 汙; 污 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
于
于yú汙wū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 汙 pairs 水 (water) with 于 for the sound; the simplified 污 is a later shorthand.

Open 污 →

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