Gaslighting
Meaning: Manipulating someone into questioning their own reality, memory, or sanity.
Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation where one person makes another doubt their own perceptions. A gaslighter might deny things that happened, twist your words, or tell you you're 'overreacting' until you question your own judgment. The term exploded in mainstream American vocabulary in the 2010s–2020s through therapy culture and social media.
Examples
- He kept telling me I was crazy for being upset, but I wasn't. He was gaslighting me. 我明明有理由生气,他却一直说我疯了。他是在对我煤气灯操控。Él no paraba de decirme que estaba loca por enfadarme, pero no era así. Me estaba haciendo gaslighting.怒って当然なのに、彼はずっと私がおかしいって言い続けた。ガスライティングされてたんだよ。화를 내는 게 당연한 상황인데 그는 계속 내가 미쳤다고 했어. 가스라이팅을 당하고 있었던 거야.
- Stop gaslighting me — I know what I saw. 别对我煤气灯操控了——我知道我看到了什么。Deja de hacerme gaslighting: sé lo que vi.ガスライティングはやめて——私は自分が見たものをわかってるから。가스라이팅하지 마 — 내가 뭘 봤는지 나는 알아.
- Gaslighting is one of the biggest red flags in a relationship. 煤气灯操控是感情中最大的危险信号之一。El gaslighting es una de las mayores señales de alarma en una relación.ガスライティングは恋愛における最大の危険信号の一つだよ。가스라이팅은 연애에서 가장 큰 위험 신호 중 하나야.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: relationships, therapy, social media, politics
Tone: serious, accusatory
✓ Do Say
- That's textbook gaslighting.这是教科书式的煤气灯操控。Eso es gaslighting de manual.それは典型的なガスライティングだよ。그건 교과서적인 가스라이팅이야.
- Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse.煤气灯操控是一种精神虐待。El gaslighting es una forma de abuso emocional.ガスライティングは精神的虐待の一形態だ。가스라이팅은 정서적 학대의 한 형태야.
✗ Don't Say
- Don't overuse the term for minor disagreements — not every argument is gaslighting不要把这个词滥用于小争执——并不是每次吵架都是煤气灯操控No abuses del término para desacuerdos menores: no todas las discusiones son gaslighting些細な意見の相違にまでこの言葉を乱用しないこと——すべての口論がガスライティングではない사소한 의견 충돌에 이 용어를 남발하지 말 것 — 모든 다툼이 가스라이팅은 아니다
Origin & History
From the 1944 film 'Gaslight,' where a husband manipulates his wife into thinking she's going insane by dimming the gas lights and denying it. The term was adopted by psychologists and entered mainstream American vocabulary in the 2010s. Merriam-Webster named it 2022 Word of the Year.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s (mainstream)
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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