违背

• Pinyin: wéi bèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 违 = 辶 (walk) + 韦 (phonetic) — to deviate, go against; 背 = 北 (back/north) + 月 (flesh) — the back, to turn one's back on

Meaning

To violate; to go against; to contravene; to act contrary to. Used when actions contradict a principle, promise, agreement, or natural order.

违背 implies a deliberate or serious breach of something one is morally or contractually bound by — principles, promises, laws, or natural laws. It is slightly stronger than 违反 in implying a moral or fundamental transgression. Common collocations: 违背原则 (violate principles), 违背承诺 (break a promise), 违背良心 (go against one's conscience), 违背自然规律 (go against the laws of nature).

Examples

1. 这项政策明显违背了公平竞争的基本原则，受到了多方的强烈批评。 This policy clearly violates the basic principle of fair competition and has drawn strong criticism from multiple quarters.
2. 他说无论遇到多大的压力，都绝不会违背当初对家人许下的承诺。 He said that no matter how much pressure he faced, he would never go back on the promise he had made to his family.
3. 盲目追求经济增长而忽视生态保护，从根本上违背了可持续发展的核心理念。 Blindly pursuing economic growth while ignoring ecological protection fundamentally contradicts the core concept of sustainable development.

Usage Guide

Context: ethics, law, politics, everyday

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 这样做明显违背了职业道德，无论结果如何都不应该被接受。(Doing this clearly goes against professional ethics — it should not be acceptable regardless of the outcome.)
• 违背良心做出的选择，迟早会让人追悔莫及。(A choice made in violation of one's conscience will sooner or later lead to bitter regret.)

Don't Say

• 将违背与违反完全等同 — 违背 carries a stronger moral or fundamental connotation (betraying core principles/conscience); 违反 is more neutral and administrative (violating a rule or regulation)

Origin & History

Compound of 违 (to deviate, go against — 辶 walk + 韦 phonetic) + 背 (to turn one's back on, to betray — 北 back + 月 flesh). Together: to turn away from and act contrary to something one is bound by.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal