Definition
枉 is a bound form (b.f.) that appears in compound words rather than alone. It has two core senses: (1) 'in vain, to no avail' in words like 枉费 (waste) and 枉然 (futile); (2) 'to distort or pervert' in words like 冤枉 (to wrongfully accuse) and 枉法 (to bend the law). You'll never use 枉 by itself in modern Chinese—always memorize it as part of a compound.
b.f.
in vainfutile (in compounds like 枉费, 枉然)to distortpervert (the law or justice) (in compounds like 枉法, 冤枉)
Examples
- 枉。Tā de yí piàn hǎoxīn quándōu wǎng fèi le.All his good intentions went to waste.
- ，。Nǐ wùhuì le, wǒ bìng méiyǒu yuān wǎng nǐ.You misunderstood me — I didn't wrongfully accuse you.
- 枉。Fǎguān bù néng xùnsī wǎng fǎ.A judge cannot bend the law to serve personal interests.
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