宰割 (zǎi gē) — to slaughter and cut up (livestock, meat); to oppress and exploit; to carve up (a country, territory, or people)

Definition

Literal sense: slaughter and butcher livestock (鸡、羊). Figurative sense — the one learners will mostly meet at HSK 7 — means to carve up and exploit a weak country or people, much stronger than 侵略.

verb
to slaughter and cut up (livestock, meat)to oppress and exploitto carve up (a country, territory, or people)

Examples

  • 宰割
    Zhè zhī jī yǐ jīng bèi zǎi gē le.
    This chicken has already been slaughtered and cut up.
  • 宰割
    Lì shǐ shàng, ruò guó cháng bèi qiáng guó zǎi gē.
    Historically, weak countries are often carved up by strong ones.
  • 宰割
    Zhí mín zhě cán kù dì zǎi gē le nà piàn tǔ dì de rén mín.
    The colonists ruthlessly oppressed and exploited the people of that land.

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