非礼

非禮

fēilǐ

verb #22,530

Meanings

1 to sexually harass
2 to act improperly / indecently
3 impropriety (against propriety/礼)

Characters

not / contrary to

ritual propriety / etiquette / rites

Examples

他在地铁上非礼一名女性，被当场逮捕。

Tā zài dìtiě shàng fēilǐ yī míng nǚxìng, bèi dāngchǎng dàibǔ.

He sexually harassed a woman on the subway and was arrested on the spot.

孔子说：非礼勿视，非礼勿听。

Kǒngzǐ shuō: fēilǐ wù shì, fēilǐ wù tīng.

Confucius said: Do not look at what is contrary to propriety; do not listen to what is contrary to propriety.

Tips

culture

非礼 has two distinct registers. In classical Chinese and Confucian thought (论语 Analects), 非礼 means 'contrary to ritual propriety' (礼 = rites/etiquette). In modern Cantonese-influenced usage (especially Hong Kong), it means 'to sexually harass'. Both are standard uses.

Stroke Order

非 fēi

礼 lǐ