折磨

zhémó

verb HSK 7-9 #1,781

Meanings

1 to torment
2 to torture
3 to cause suffering

Characters

to break; to snap

to grind; to wear down

Examples

HSK 2

别折磨自己了。

Bié zhémó zìjǐ le.

Stop tormenting yourself.

HSK 4

病痛折磨了他好几年。

Bìngtòng zhémó le tā hǎojǐ nián.

Illness tormented him for many years.

HSK 5

失眠一直折磨着她。

Shīmián yìzhí zhémó zhe tā.

Insomnia has been tormenting her.

Tips

memory

折 (break) + 磨 (grind) - suffering that breaks and grinds you down over time.

Stroke Order

折 zhé

磨 mó