恐吓

• Pinyin: kǒng hè
• Hanzi breakdown: 恐 = frighten; 吓 = 口 (mouth) + 下 (below) — to scare

Meaning

To threaten; to intimidate; to menace. The act of using fear to coerce someone.

A serious term often used in legal and criminal contexts. Describes verbal or physical threats meant to frighten someone into compliance. Can be a criminal offense when severe enough.

Examples

1. 他被人恐吓，要求交出保护费。 He was threatened and demanded to pay protection money.
2. 网络恐吓已经成为一种新型犯罪。 Cyber intimidation has become a new type of crime.
3. 用暴力恐吓他人是违法行为。 Using violence to intimidate others is illegal.

Usage Guide

Context: crime, legal, bullying

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他收到了恐吓信。(He received a threatening letter.)
• 恐吓行为必须受到法律制裁。(Intimidation must be punished by law.)

Don't Say

• 我妈妈恐吓我要好好学习。(Don't use 恐吓 for normal parental warnings — use 警告 or 催; 恐吓 implies criminal threat)

Origin & History

Compound of 恐 (fear/frighten) + 吓 (scare). Together means 'to frighten and scare.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal