奴隶

• Pinyin: nú lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 奴 = 女 (woman) + 又 (hand) — a captured person; 隶 = originally depicting a hand catching an animal — to be caught and made to serve

Meaning

Slave; one who is owned by and completely subject to another person. Also used figuratively for total subjugation.

Used in historical, sociological, and political contexts to describe enslaved peoples (e.g. in ancient China or the transatlantic slave trade). Figuratively applied to describe extreme social or economic dependency (e.g. 金钱的奴隶 — a slave to money). Carries strong moral condemnation.

Examples

1. 在漫长的人类历史中，奴隶制度曾以不同形式存在于许多文明社会之中，给无数人带来了深重的苦难。 Throughout the long course of human history, slavery existed in many civilizations in different forms, bringing profound suffering to countless people.
2. 他在那份高薪工作中失去了全部的自由时间，逐渐沦为了工作和金钱的奴隶，内心充满了疲惫与迷茫。 In that high-paying job, he lost all his free time and gradually became a slave to work and money, filled with exhaustion and confusion.
3. 联合国相关公约明确规定，任何形式的奴役和强迫劳动均属严重侵犯人权的罪行，各成员国有义务依法予以打击。 Relevant UN conventions clearly stipulate that any form of enslavement and forced labor is a serious human rights crime, and member states have an obligation to combat it in accordance with the law.

Usage Guide

Context: history, politics, sociology, human rights

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 废除奴隶制度是人类文明史上一次重大的道德进步，但其历史遗毒至今仍以各种形式影响着许多国家和地区的社会结构与种族关系。(The abolition of slavery was a major moral advance in the history of human civilisation, but its historical legacy still affects the social structures and racial relations of many countries and regions in various forms today.)
• 现代社会中'工作奴隶'这一概念引发了广泛共鸣，许多人感到自己完全被工作所支配，丧失了对个人时间和生活节奏的掌控权。(The concept of the 'work slave' in modern society has struck a chord with many people, who feel completely dominated by their jobs and have lost control over their personal time and the rhythm of their lives.)

Don't Say

• 在轻松玩笑语境中随意使用'奴隶'，如用于形容朋友之间的关系 — 奴隶 references a grave historical injustice; casual or humorous use risks trivialising the suffering of enslaved peoples; reserve it for serious historical, political, or figurative contexts

Origin & History

奴 = 女 (woman) + 又 (hand) — a woman seized by hand, originally a female captive; 隶 = 捕 variant — one who is caught and bound to serve

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal