挨打

• Pinyin: ái dǎ
• Hanzi breakdown: 挨 = 扌(hand) + 矣 (phonetic); 打 = 扌(hand) + 丁 (nail)

Meaning

To get beaten; to be hit. Describes being on the receiving end of physical punishment or violence.

A verb-object compound commonly used to describe receiving physical punishment, whether from parents disciplining children, bullying situations, or being attacked. Can be used literally or metaphorically for teams or businesses being dominated by competitors.

Examples

1. 落后就要挨打，这是历史给我们的教训。 If you fall behind, you will be beaten — this is the lesson history has taught us.
2. 小孩子在学校挨打了，家长应该先了解情况再做决定。 If a child gets beaten at school, parents should first understand the situation before making decisions.
3. 他脾气太倔，跟人吵架经常挨打吃亏。 His temper is too stubborn; he often gets beaten and loses out when arguing with people.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, historical

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 以前孩子不听话就挨打，现在教育方式不一样了。(In the past, disobedient children would get beaten, but education methods are different now.)
• 这场比赛我们挨打了九十分钟。(We got beaten for ninety minutes in this match.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'他很喜欢挨打' (Don't say 'he likes to get beaten' casually — this sounds very strange unless discussing a specific psychological context)

Origin & History

Compound of 挨 (to suffer/endure) + 打 (to hit/beat), literally meaning 'to suffer beating.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal