任人宰割

• Pinyin: rèn rén zǎi gē
• Hanzi breakdown: 任 = 亻+ 壬 (to allow/assign); 人 = 亻(person); 宰 = 宀 + 辛 (roof + hardship = to slaughter); 割 = 害 + 刂 (harm + knife = to cut)

Meaning

To allow oneself to be exploited or dominated without resistance; to be completely at someone's mercy.

A four-character idiom (成语) with strongly negative connotations, describing complete powerlessness or submissiveness. Often used in historical or political contexts to describe oppressed peoples, weak nations, or individuals who fail to stand up for themselves. Implies both external dominance and internal failure of will.

Examples

1. 一个没有自强意识的民族，迟早会沦落为任人宰割的对象。 A nation without a spirit of self-reliance will sooner or later become something others can carve up at will.
2. 他决定不再任人宰割，勇敢地拿起法律武器维护自己的权益。 He decided he wouldn’t let himself be pushed around anymore, and bravely used the law to defend his rights.
3. 在国际竞争中，技术落后的国家往往只能任人宰割。 In international competition, countries that lag behind in technology are often left at others’ mercy.

Usage Guide

Context: history, politics, idiom

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 中华民族在近代曾饱受屈辱，但我们绝不会再任人宰割。(The Chinese nation suffered greatly in modern history, but we will never again be at anyone's mercy.)
• 面对不公正的合同条款，员工们团结起来，拒绝任人宰割。(Faced with unjust contract terms, the employees united and refused to be exploited at will.)

Don't Say

• 我在公司被任人宰割了 — while understandable, 任人宰割 suits systemic or historical oppression; for workplace mistreatment say 我遭受了不公正对待 or 我被随意欺压

Origin & History

任 (allow/permit) + 人 (others/people) + 宰 (slaughter) + 割 (cut apart)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal