严刑 (yán xíng) — cruel punishment; torture

Definition

Examples

• 古代有些朝代使用严刑来维持统治。
  Gǔ dài yǒu xiē cháo dài shǐ yòng yán xíng lái wéi chí tǒng zhì.
  Some ancient dynasties used cruel punishment to maintain rule.
• 这种严刑引起了人民的强烈不满。
  Zhè zhǒng yán xíng yǐn qǐ le rén mín de qiáng liè bù mǎn.
  This kind of severe punishment caused strong discontent among the people.
• 现代法律早已废除了这类严刑。
  Xiàn dài fǎ lǜ zǎo yǐ fèi chú le zhè lèi yán xíng.
  Modern law has long abolished this type of torture.