挨

• Pinyin: ái
• Hanzi breakdown: 挨 = 扌(hand radical) + 矣 (phonetic component indicating completion)

Meaning

To suffer; to endure; to get (beaten, scolded). Indicates passively receiving negative treatment or hardship.

When pronounced ái, this character emphasizes passive suffering or endurance of difficult situations. Commonly paired with words like 打 (beaten), 骂 (scolded), 饿 (hunger), or 冻 (cold). It carries a sense of helplessness or victimhood.

Examples

1. 小时候不听话，我没少挨父母的批评。 When I was young and disobedient, I received plenty of criticism from my parents.
2. 这份工作压力太大，每天都要挨骂，他实在受不了了。 This job is too stressful — he gets yelled at every day and really can't take it anymore.
3. 战争年代，老百姓挨饿受冻是常有的事。 During wartime, it was common for ordinary people to suffer hunger and cold.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, complaint

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 他从小挨打长大，性格变得很内向。(He grew up being beaten, and his personality became very introverted.)
• 员工们天天挨批评，士气很低。(The employees get criticized every day, and morale is very low.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'挨表扬' (Don't say 'suffer praise' — 挨 is only used for negative experiences like criticism or punishment, not positive things)

Origin & History

Originally meant 'to approach' or 'be near' (āi), but developed the meaning of 'to suffer/endure' (ái) through semantic extension of being subjected to something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal