用刑 (yòng xíng) — to apply torture; to use corporal punishment; to put someone to torture

Definition

A formal/literary verb meaning 'to apply torture or corporal punishment,' typically by an authority (police, court) against a suspect or prisoner. Pairs with the object 刑 'punishment/torture' rather than taking a person as direct object.

verb
to apply tortureto use corporal punishmentto put someone to torture

Examples

  • 用刑
    Bù néng suí biàn duì fàn rén yòng xíng.
    You cannot casually torture prisoners.
  • Tā men duì tā yòng le zhòng xíng.
    They applied severe torture to him.
  • 用刑
    Guò qù jǐng chá jīng cháng yòng xíng bī gòng.
    In the past, police often tortured to extract confessions.
Appears in

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