侮辱

• Reading: ぶじょく
• Romaji: bujoku
• Kanji breakdown: 侮 (bu) — despise, insult, scorn; 辱 (joku) — disgrace, humiliate, shame
• Pronunciation: /bɯ.dʑo.kɯ/

Meaning

Insult; affront; contempt. An act or statement that shows disrespect and damages someone's dignity.

A noun and suru-verb (他動詞) meaning to insult, show contempt for, or treat someone with disrespect. A serious, formal word often used in legal and official contexts. 侮辱罪 (bujoku-zai) is the legal crime of insult/defamation in Japanese law. Stronger and more formal than バカにする (to make fun of).

Examples

1. 人前で侮辱されて悔しかった。 It was humiliating to be insulted in front of others.
2. ネット上の侮辱は法律で罰せられることがある。 Online insults can be punishable by law.
3. 相手を侮辱するような発言は慎むべきだ。 You should refrain from making statements that insult others.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, social issues, formal discussion

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 侮 (bu, despise/insult) + 辱 (joku, disgrace/humiliate). Both characters independently mean to disrespect, creating an intensified compound of contemptuous treatment.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal