揍

• Pinyin: zòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 揍 = 扌(hand) + 奏 (phonetic component)

Meaning

To hit; to beat; to punch. Refers to striking someone physically, often in anger or as punishment.

A colloquial and somewhat forceful verb for physical striking. Common in spoken Mandarin and informal writing. Can be used humorously between close friends or seriously when describing violence.

Examples

1. 那个孩子因为欺负同学，回家后被父亲狠狠揍了一顿。 The child bullied a classmate, and when he got home his father gave him a severe beating.
2. 两人因为一点小摩擦竟然大打出手，其中一人被揍得鼻青脸肿。 A minor dispute escalated into a fight, and one person was beaten until he was bruised and swollen.
3. 他气得想揍人，但最终还是克制住了自己的情绪。 He was so angry he wanted to hit someone, but in the end he managed to control himself.

Usage Guide

Context: colloquial, conflict, family, humour

Tone: blunt

Do Say

• 他整天惹是生非，邻居扬言要揍他一顿。(He caused trouble every day, and the neighbour threatened to give him a good beating.)
• 小时候我一撒谎就会被揍，所以从小就养成了诚实的习惯。(When I was young I would get beaten whenever I lied, so I developed an honest habit from an early age.)

Don't Say

• 在正式报告中写被揍 — in formal or legal writing use 遭到殴打 or 被打伤; 揍 is too colloquial for official documents

Origin & History

揍 = 扌(hand radical) + 奏 (phonetic)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal