委屈

• Pinyin: wěi qu
• Hanzi breakdown: 委 = 禾 + 女 (yield, entrust); 屈 = 尸 + 出 (bend under pressure)

Meaning

To feel wronged or aggrieved; the emotion of being treated unjustly or misunderstood. Also used as a verb meaning to put someone in an unworthy or uncomfortable position.

A common emotional term in interpersonal conflicts, family dynamics, and workplace disputes. Often paired with 受 (受委屈, to suffer injustice) or 感到 (感到委屈, to feel wronged). Carries a strong sense of suppressed grievance.

Examples

1. 她因为被误解而感到非常委屈。 She felt deeply wronged because she was misunderstood.
2. 在这个岗位上工作，他受了很多委屈。 In this position, he has endured a lot of unfair treatment.
3. 孩子哭着说自己受了委屈，老师立刻蹲下来安慰她。 The child cried and said she’d been treated unfairly, and the teacher immediately crouched down to comfort her.

Usage Guide

Context: emotional, interpersonal, conversation

Tone: empathetic

Do Say

• 你受委屈了，我完全理解你的感受。(You have been wronged, and I completely understand how you feel.)
• 让你做这种工作真是委屈你了。(Having you do this kind of work is really putting you in an unworthy position.)

Don't Say

• 这道菜让你委屈了 — use 难为你了 or 辛苦你了 when asking someone to do something inconvenient; 委屈 specifically conveys being treated unjustly, not merely being put to trouble

Origin & History

委 (submit, yield) + 屈 (bend, be oppressed) — bending under unjust treatment

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal