迫害

• Pinyin: pò hài
• Hanzi breakdown: 迫 = 辶 + 白 (to press forward urgently — coercion); 害 = 宀 + 口 + 丰 (under a roof, words that damage abundance — to harm)

Meaning

To persecute; to subject to oppression, harassment, or mistreatment, especially by those in power against a group or individual for political, religious, or ethnic reasons.

Strong negative connotation. Used for political persecution (政治迫害), religious persecution (宗教迫害), ethnic persecution (种族迫害). 迫害妄想 = persecution complex/paranoia. Implies systematic, power-backed oppression rather than casual harm.

Examples

1. 数百名持不同政见者在那个特殊时期遭受了系统性的政治迫害，其中许多人被迫流亡海外，再未能返回故土。 Hundreds of dissidents suffered systematic political persecution during that period; many were forced into exile and never made it back to their homeland.
2. 这部历史题材的小说以细腻的笔触描写了战时平民所经历的迫害与苦难，令读者深切感受到极端主义的残酷本质。 This historical novel vividly portrays the persecution and suffering civilians endured in wartime, leaving readers keenly aware of the brutal nature of extremism.
3. 国际人权组织呼吁国际社会立即采取行动，制止针对该地区少数民族的持续迫害行为。 International human rights organizations are calling on the international community to act immediately to stop the ongoing persecution of ethnic minorities in the region.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, human rights, history, law

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 历史一再证明，基于族裔、宗教或政治信仰的系统性迫害，最终都会在施害者的国家留下难以磨灭的历史创伤与道德污点。(History has repeatedly demonstrated that systematic persecution based on ethnicity, religion, or political belief ultimately leaves indelible historical trauma and moral stain in the perpetrators' own countries.)
• 该国政府拒绝承认针对异见人士的迫害事实，并将国际观察员的批评定性为干涉内政的政治操弄。(The government of that country refused to acknowledge the reality of persecution against dissidents and characterised the criticism of international observers as political manipulation interfering in domestic affairs.)

Don't Say

• 迫害 is a strong term implying systematic, power-backed oppression — do not use it for ordinary unfairness or personal conflict; for general mistreatment, use 虐待 or 欺压; 迫害妄想 is a psychiatric term (paranoia) and should not be trivialised

Origin & History

迫 (to press, to coerce — 辶 movement + 白 white/clear → pressing forward with force) + 害 (to harm — 宀 roof + 口 mouth + 丰 lush growth)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal