宰割

zǎigē

verb #29,089

Meanings

1 to slaughter
2 to ride roughshod over
3 to take advantage of
4 to dominate and exploit

Characters

to slaughter/to govern

to cut/to sever

Examples

HSK 6

弱小的民族往往遭受强权的宰割。

Ruòxiǎo de mínzú wǎngwǎng zāoshòu qiángquán de zǎigē.

Weak nations often suffer domination and exploitation by powerful states.

HSK 7-9

我们不能任人宰割，必须维护自己的权益。

Wǒmen bùnéng rènrénzǎigē, bìxū wéihù zìjǐ de quányì.

We cannot allow ourselves to be exploited - we must defend our rights.

Tips

usage

宰割 literally means 'to slaughter and cut up (an animal)' but is used figuratively to mean ruthless exploitation or dominance over a weaker party. The phrase 任人宰割 (to be at someone's mercy) is very common.

Stroke Order

宰 zǎi

割 gē