Definition

1. Verb:
   • To bully: To use superior strength or influence to intimidate or harm someone perceived as weaker.
   • To oppress: To treat someone in a cruel and unfair way, often using authority unjustly.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Bọn trẻ lớn không nên ức hiếp trẻ nhỏ. (Older children should not bully younger ones.)
  • Không ai có quyền ức hiếp người khác tại nơi làm việc. (No one has the right to bully others in the workplace.)
  • Chính quyền độc tài đó thường ức hiếp người dân. (That tyrannical government often oppresses the people.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a power imbalance, where the perpetrator has some form of advantage (physical, social, hierarchical) over the victim.
• It can describe actions ranging from verbal intimidation and threats to physical violence and systemic abuse of power.

Variants and Related Words

• Bắt nạt (v): A very common synonym for "to bully," often used in everyday contexts, especially among children.
  • Nó hay bắt nạt bạn cùng lớp. (He often bullies his classmates.)
• Hành hạ (v): To torment or to maltreat; implies causing physical or mental suffering.
  • Hành hạ động vật là tàn ác. (Tormenting animals is cruel.)

Synonyms

• Bully: To seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce someone perceived as vulnerable.
• Oppress: To keep someone in subservience and hardship, especially by the unjust exercise of authority.
• Tyramize: To rule or treat someone with cruel and arbitrary power.

Related Idioms

• Ức hiếp kẻ yếu: To bully the weak.
  • Hành động ức hiếp kẻ yếu là đáng khinh. (The act of bullying the weak is despicable.)
• Cậy mạnh hiếp yếu: To rely on one's strength to bully the weak (a common four-word idiom).
  • Chính sách đó chẳng khác nào cậy mạnh hiếp yếu. (That policy is no different from using strength to bully the weak.)