暴虐 (bào nüè) — brutal, tyrannical

Definition

A formal, written adjective for savage cruelty — used for tyrants, rulers, or actions. Stronger and more literary than 残酷, emphasizing the abuse of power.

adjective
brutaltyrannical

Examples

  • 暴虐，。
    Zhè ge bào jūn fēi cháng bào nüè, bǎi xìng shēng huó zài shuǐ shēn huǒ rè zhī zhōng.
    This tyrant is extremely brutal, and the people live in deep distress.
  • 暴虐。
    Zhè zhǒng bào nüè de xíng wéi ràng rén wú fǎ yuán liàng.
    This kind of brutal behavior is unforgivable.
  • 暴虐。
    Tā de bào nüè tǒng zhì zuì zhōng bèi rén mín tuī fān.
    His tyrannical rule was eventually overthrown by the people.

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.

暴bàoviolent or harsh
虐nüècruel

暴 conveys violent harshness and 虐 conveys cruelty; together they describe brutal tyranny.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The earliest form paired 虎 and 戈, a tiger and a weapon. The later 暴 came from a picture of hands drying something in the sun.

Open 暴 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

An early form of 虐 showed 虎 (a tiger) and 人 (a person), like a tiger about to eat a person; this picture later came to mean cruel or tyrannical.

Open 虐 →

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