虐 (nüè) · to abuse; to mistreat; to tyrannize

Meanings

1 to abuse; to mistreat; to tyrannize
2 cruel; brutal
3 to destroy; to dominate (in games/competition)

Characters

虐

nüè

cruel; to abuse; to tyrannize

Examples

HSK 3

他在游戏里被虐了。

Tā zài yóuxì lǐ bèi nüè le.

He got destroyed in the game.

HSK 4

不能虐待动物。

Bùnéng nüèdài dòngwù.

You must not abuse animals.

HSK 4

这部剧太虐了，看得我哭了。

Zhè bù jù tài nüè le, kàn de wǒ kū le.

This drama is so heartbreaking, it made me cry.

Tips

usage

In internet slang, 虐 has expanded beyond 'abuse' to mean 'emotionally devastating' (for dramas/stories) or 'to crush/dominate' (in games). 虐心 means 'heartbreaking.'

Components

radical

虍 hū

tiger top (radical)

Top tiger-stripe radical - upper portion of 虎, drawing a tiger's head and forelegs. As the indexing radical it carries the meaning: the original picture was a tiger striking down on prey. Tigers stand for ferocity, hence 'cruel, brutal.' Family: 虎 tiger, 虑 worry, 虚 empty.

semantic

彐 jì

claw-shape; here a clawed paw

Bottom 彐 - three-stroke fragment that here pictures the tiger's reversed claws raking downward over its prey. Combined with the tiger top above it gives the literal etymology: tiger claws tearing into a victim - the savage scene that gave 虐 its core meaning of cruel mistreatment.