Definition

Verb: - To bully, to tyrannize: To use superior strength or power to intimidate, frighten, or force someone weaker or more vulnerable into doing something. It implies an abuse of power and often involves repeated, unfair treatment. - To oppress: To treat someone cruelly or unfairly, especially by using authority or power to keep them in a submissive state.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Những học sinh lớp dưới thường bị các anh lớp trên ăn hiếp. (The younger students are often bullied by the older ones.)
  • Anh ta có thói quen ăn hiếp những người nhút nhát trong nhóm. (He has a habit of tyrannizing the shy people in the group.)
  • Không nên ăn hiếp người yếu thế hơn mình. (One should not oppress those who are weaker.)

Advanced Usage

• "ăn hiếp lẫn nhau": to bully each other, to tyrannize one another.
  • Trong môi trường cạnh tranh khốc liệt, họ thường ăn hiếp lẫn nhau. (In a fiercely competitive environment, they often bully each other.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bắt nạt (verb): To bully. This is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "ăn hiếp," though "bắt nạt" can sometimes imply a slightly less systematic or powerful form of intimidation.
• Hành hạ (verb): To torment, to torture. This word implies causing physical or mental suffering, which can be a more severe form of "ăn hiếp."
• Ức hiếp (verb): To coerce, to intimidate. This is a formal synonym, emphasizing the use of threats or force.

Synonyms

• To intimidate: To frighten or threaten someone, usually to make them do something.
• To browbeat: To intimidate someone into doing something, typically through aggressive or domineering behavior.
• To push around (informal): To treat someone unfairly by using one's authority or strength.

Related Phrases

• Thói ăn hiếp: The habit of bullying, tyrannical behavior.
  • Mọi người đều ghét thói ăn hiếp của anh ta. (Everyone hates his bullying habit.)

Related Idioms

• Cá lớn nuốt cá bé (Literal: Big fish eats small fish): This idiom describes a situation where the powerful dominate or "bully" the weak, similar to the concept of "ăn hiếp" in a systemic or societal context.
  • Thương trường như chiến trường, luôn tồn tại cảnh cá lớn nuốt cá bé. (The business world is like a battlefield, where the scene of the big fish eating the small fish always exists.)

verb

1. To bully, to tyrannize
   • những tân binh non nớt thường bị viên thiếu úy già này ăn hiếp
     raw recruits are often bullied by this old sub-lieutenant