垄断

壟斷

lǒngduàn

verb HSK 7-9 #18,494

Meanings

HSK 3

这家公司垄断了整个市场。

Zhè jiā gōngsī lǒngduàn le zhěnggè shìchǎng.

This company monopolized the entire market.

HSK 5

政府正在打击垄断行为。

Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài dǎjī lǒngduàn xíngwéi.

The government is cracking down on monopolistic behavior.

history

垄断 comes from an ancient story: a man stood on a 垄 (ridge/mound) to 断 (cut off/monopolize) trade at a market, gaining an unfair advantage.

垄 lǒng

断 duàn