欺凌 (qī líng) — to bully and humiliate; to maltreat (especially… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

欺凌 (qīlíng) is a formal written term for bullying with a power imbalance — stronger and more serious than everyday 欺负. Often used in news, law, and the fixed phrase 校园欺凌 (school bullying).

verb

to bully and humiliateto maltreat (especially with power imbalance)

Examples

欺凌。
Tā bù xǐ huan zài xué xiào bèi qī líng.
He doesn't like being bullied at school.
欺凌。
Gōng sī lǐ méi yǒu rén gǎn qī líng xīn yuán gōng.
No one in the company dares to bully new employees.
欺凌。
Wǒ men yīng gāi fǎn duì rèn hé xíng shì de qī líng.
We should oppose any form of bullying.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

Both 欺 and 凌 mean to bully or insult, so together they stress humiliating mistreatment.

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.

其欠欺

Meaning part形符xíngfú

欠欠qiànbreath

Sound part声符shēngfú

其

其qí欺qī

Same sound today

欺 is made of 其, which gives its sound, and 欠, which means breath.

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

冫夌凌

Meaning part形符xíngfú

冫Written in full as仌bīngice

Sound part声符shēngfú

夌

夌líng凌líng

Same sound today

In 凌, the left part 冫 relates to ice, while the right part 夌 gives the pronunciation.

Appears in

Conflict & Agreement

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