得罪

dézuì

verb HSK 7-9 #8,925

Meanings

To get someone's offense — to offend, to displease.

我不想得罪任何人。

Wǒ bù xiǎng dézuì rènhérén.

I don't want to offend anyone.

他说话不小心，得罪了领导。

Tā shuōhuà bù xiǎoxīn, dézuì le lǐngdǎo.

He spoke carelessly and offended the boss.

得罪人的话还是别说了。

Dézuì rén dehuà háishì biéshuō le.

It's better not to say things that offend people.

usage

得罪 always takes a person as its object. You 得罪 someone, not something. Common pattern: 得罪人 (offend people).

culture

In Chinese social culture, avoiding 得罪 others (especially superiors) is important for maintaining 面子 (miànzi, face) and harmonious relationships.

得 de

罪 zuì