骚扰

Chinese HSK 7-9 Vocabulary Chinese ★★ 2/5 neutral sāo rǎo
Pinyin sāo rǎo
Hanzi breakdown 骚 = 马 (horse) + 蚤 (flea) = to agitate, disturb; 扰 = 扌(hand radical) + 尧 (phonetic component) = to disturb by repeated action

Meaning

To harass; to disturb; to bother persistently. Unwanted, repeated interference with another person.

Used in legal, social, and everyday contexts. 性骚扰 (sexual harassment) is a legally defined term. Also applied to phone harassment (电话骚扰), online harassment (网络骚扰), and general persistent disturbance. Carries a strong negative connotation of violation and unwanted intrusion.

Examples

  1. 公司的反骚扰政策明确规定，任何形式的职场骚扰行为均属严重违规，将依据情节轻重予以严肃处理。 The company’s anti-harassment policy clearly states that any form of workplace harassment is a serious violation and will be dealt with strictly, depending on the severity.
  2. 他多次拨打骚扰电话向前同事施压，最终被对方以非法骚扰为由诉诸法律。 He repeatedly made harassing phone calls to pressure a former colleague, and was ultimately taken to court for unlawful harassment.
  3. 为了保障女性员工在工作环境中的尊严与安全，立法机构近年来不断完善有关性骚扰的相关法律条款。 To safeguard the dignity and safety of women employees at work, lawmakers in recent years have continued to strengthen legal provisions related to sexual harassment.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, social issues, workplace, communications

Tone: negative

Do Say

  • 受害者表示，对方长达数月的持续骚扰行为严重影响了她的正常生活，迫使她不得不申请法院保护令。(The victim stated that the perpetrator's persistent harassment lasting several months severely affected her normal life, forcing her to apply for a court protection order.)
  • 网络平台应当承担更大的社会责任，建立有效机制以防止用户遭受网络骚扰并及时处理相关投诉。(Online platforms should bear greater social responsibility, establishing effective mechanisms to prevent users from suffering online harassment and to handle related complaints promptly.)

Don't Say

  • 他骚扰了一番 — 骚扰 requires a clear object; use 骚扰了某人 or specify the target; 骚扰 cannot stand intransitively as a self-contained action

Origin & History

骚 = 马 (horse) + 蚤 (flea) = agitation, disturbance; 扰 = 扌(hand) + 尧 (eminent, phonetic) = to disturb with repeated action

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Related Phrases

上场 To take the field or go on stage; to enter a sports arena or performance venue in order to compete or perform. Also used metaphorically for stepping into an important situation. 上岗 To take up one's post or station; to begin working a shift or assignment; to be officially deployed to a work position, especially for newly certified employees or shift workers. 上报 To report upward to a superior or higher authority; to submit a report to an upper-level organisation. Also: to be covered or published in a newspaper. 上方 The upper part or area; the space directly above something. In classical or formal contexts, also refers to a superior authority or higher power. 上期 The previous period, issue, or term; the last cycle, instalment, edition, or session immediately before the current one. 上流 The upper reaches of a river; also: the upper class or elite social stratum, referring to those with elevated social standing, wealth, and refined tastes. 上火 To develop internal heat; a traditional Chinese medicine concept in which excessive internal fire causes symptoms such as mouth sores, sore throat, or acne. Colloquially also means to get angry or worked up. 上空 The sky above or airspace above a particular place; the aerial space directly overhead a specific location.
Practice this on WordLoci

Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation and spaced repetition