冒犯

• Pinyin: mào fàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 冒 = 冃 + 目 — to venture beyond; 犯 = 犭(dog radical) + 己 — to transgress, violate

Meaning

To offend; to affront; to give offence to someone through words or actions.

Used when one's behaviour or speech causes another person to feel disrespected or insulted, whether intentionally or not. Common in formal apologies, diplomatic language, and interpersonal disputes. The offender often acknowledges their fault.

Examples

1. 他在会议上的言辞过于尖锐，无意间冒犯了在场的几位前辈，事后主动登门致歉。 His words at the meeting were too sharp and unintentionally offended several senior colleagues, so afterward he took the initiative to visit and apologize.
2. 若有冒犯之处，还请见谅，本人绝非有意为之，只是表达方式欠妥。 If anything I said was offensive, please forgive me. I truly didn’t mean it; I just expressed myself poorly.
3. 外交谈判中，任何可能冒犯对方文化禁忌的言行都必须提前规避。 In diplomatic negotiations, any words or actions that might offend the other side’s cultural taboos must be avoided in advance.

Usage Guide

Context: social, diplomatic, interpersonal

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 如有冒犯，敬请海涵，本人言辞直率，偶有失当之处。(If I have caused offence, I sincerely ask for your understanding — I speak frankly and may occasionally say something inappropriate.)
• 他的举止冒犯了在场的嘉宾，主办方随即出面致歉并妥善处理了后续事宜。(His behaviour offended the guests present, and the organiser immediately stepped in to apologise and handle the aftermath.)

Don't Say

• 用'冒犯'描述物理伤害 — 身体上的侵犯应用'侵犯'或'袭击' (Don't use 冒犯 for physical harm — use 侵犯 or 袭击 for physical assault)

Origin & History

冒 (to venture rashly, to transgress) + 犯 (to violate, to offend). Together meaning to transgress against another's dignity or boundaries.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal