霸占

• Pinyin: bà zhàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 霸 = 雨 (rain) + 革 (leather) + 月 (moon), meaning tyrant; 占 = to occupy

Meaning

To forcibly occupy; to seize; to monopolize.

Describes taking control of something by force or unfair means, whether physical property, resources, or even abstract things like someone's time. Always carries a negative connotation.

Examples

1. 他霸占了整个会议室，不让别人使用。 He's hogging the entire conference room and won't let anyone else use it.
2. 那家公司霸占了大部分市场份额。 That company has monopolized most of the market share.
3. 你怎么能霸占遥控器不让我换台？ How can you hog the remote and not let me change the channel?

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, complaint

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 别霸占公共资源。(Don't hog public resources.)
• 他霸占了最好的位置。(He seized the best spot.)

Don't Say

• 用'霸占'形容正当所有权 (Don't use 霸占 for legitimate ownership — it implies unfair seizure)

Origin & History

霸 (tyrant/dominate) + 占 (to occupy). Together: to tyrannically occupy.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal