侮辱

ぶじょく

insult, contempt, slight

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Understanding 侮辱

The word 侮辱 (wǔrǔ) means to insult or to show contempt towards someone. It is often used in formal or serious contexts where someone's dignity or honor is attacked.

Usage in Conversation

侮辱 is typically used to describe verbal or behavioral actions that degrade or humiliate another person. For example, you might say “他的言语侮辱了我” to express that someone's words insulted you.

Common Collocations

  • 侮辱人格 (insult someone's character): used when someone's personal integrity is attacked.
  • 侮辱国家 (insult the country): used in political or patriotic contexts.
  • 侮辱他人 (insult others): a general phrase warning against disrespect.

Nuances and Register

侮辱 carries a strong negative tone and is more formal than casual insults like 骂 (mà). It implies serious disrespect and can be used in legal or official complaints.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse 侮辱 with 辱骂 (rǔmà), which emphasizes abusive language or cursing. 侮辱 focuses more on the act of disrespect or humiliation itself.

Example Sentences

His words seriously insulted my dignity.

Don't insult others, even if you disagree with their opinions.

He felt insulted, so he decided to leave the gathering.