排斥

• Pinyin: pái chì
• Hanzi breakdown: 排 = 扌 (hand radical) + 非 (not/negative) — to push away with the hand; 斥 = 斤 (axe/weight) + 丨 (vertical stroke) — to drive away forcefully

Meaning

To repel; to exclude; to reject; to ostracise. Describes physical, social, or psychological repulsion.

Used in physics (同性电荷相互排斥 — like charges repel), psychology (心理排斥 — psychological rejection), and social dynamics (被群体排斥 — excluded by the group). Implies an active force pushing away. Distinct from passive 拒绝 (to refuse).

Examples

1. 新来的员工一度被团队中的老成员所排斥，无法融入日常工作氛围，令他感到十分沮丧。 The new employee was once excluded by the team’s longtime members and couldn’t fit into the day-to-day work environment, which left him feeling very discouraged.
2. 物理学中，同种电荷之间相互排斥，异种电荷之间相互吸引，这一规律是电磁学的基本原理之一。 In physics, like charges repel each other and opposite charges attract each other; this law is one of the basic principles of electromagnetism.
3. 她对一切新鲜事物都持开放态度，从不排斥尝试未知的领域，这种心态使她在职业生涯中取得了丰厚的成果。 She is open to all new things and never rejects trying unfamiliar areas; that mindset has brought her substantial rewards in her career.

Usage Guide

Context: social dynamics, psychology, physics, workplace

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 校园欺凌中最常见的形式之一是社交排斥，被刻意孤立和排斥在同伴群体之外的孩子往往比遭受身体攻击的孩子承受更为持久的心理创伤。(One of the most common forms of school bullying is social exclusion — children who are deliberately isolated and excluded from their peer group often suffer more lasting psychological trauma than those subjected to physical aggression.)
• 过度排斥外来文化的影响，有时反而会阻碍本民族文化的创新与发展，历史上许多文明的衰落都与其封闭性和排外性密切相关。(Excessive rejection of external cultural influence sometimes actually hinders the innovation and development of one's own culture — the decline of many civilisations throughout history has been closely linked to their insularity and exclusivity.)

Don't Say

• 将'排斥'与'拒绝'互换使用，如'我排斥他的邀请' — 排斥 implies an active force or deep-seated aversion, not just declining a specific request; for simply saying no, use 拒绝; for strong personal aversion, 排斥 is appropriate

Origin & History

排 = 扌 (hand) + 非 (not/wrong) — a hand pushing away what is 'not right'; 斥 = 斤 (axe) + 丨 (upright stroke) — to reprimand and drive away

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal