鞭笞 (biān chī) — (literary) to lash, to flog; (figurative) to castigate, to excoriate (in writing or speech)

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to lash / flog' literally and 'to castigate' (in writing or speech) figuratively. Far more formal and written than everyday words for hitting, with a strong moral-judgment tone.

verb
(literary) to lashto flog(figurative) to castigateto excoriate (in writing or speech)

Examples

  • 鞭笞。
    Zhè piān zá wén wú qíng de biān chī le shè huì de fǔ bài xiàn xiàng.
    This essay mercilessly castigates the corrupt phenomena in society.
  • ，鞭笞。
    Zài gǔ dài, fàn rén cháng bèi biān chī shì zhòng.
    In ancient times, criminals were often flogged in public.
  • 鞭笞。
    Zuò jiā yòng xī lì de bǐ chù biān chī rén xìng de ruò diǎn.
    The writer uses sharp strokes to excoriate the weaknesses of human nature.

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.

鞭biānwhip
笞chībeat with a stick

鞭 means to whip and 笞 means to beat with a stick, combining to mean flogging.

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
革革géleather
Sound part声符shēngfú
便
便biàn鞭biān
Same sound today

鞭 pairs 革, meaning leather, with 便, which gives the sound.

Open 鞭 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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