欺负

qī fu

to bully

HSK 6

Character Breakdown

Usage of 欺负 (qīfu)

The verb 欺负 means 'to bully' or 'to pick on' someone, typically someone weaker or vulnerable. It often implies unfair treatment or intimidation. This word is commonly used in contexts involving children or social groups where power imbalance exists.

Common Collocations

Nuances and Tips

When using 欺负, the focus is on the act of mistreating or intimidating someone weaker. It is often used in negative contexts and carries a disapproving tone. Unlike some synonyms that might mean 'to deceive' or 'to cheat,' 欺负 specifically involves bullying behavior.

Avoid confusing 欺负 with 欺骗 (qīpiàn), which means 'to deceive' or 'to cheat.' 欺负 is about physical or verbal bullying rather than trickery.

In conversation, 欺负 is often used to describe school bullying or workplace harassment, but it can also apply to any situation where someone is unfairly dominating or mistreating another.

Example Sentences

学校里有些同学喜欢欺负新来的学生。

Xuéxiào lǐ yǒu xiē tóngxué xǐhuān qīfu xīn lái de xuéshēng.

Some students at school like to bully the new students.

不要欺负比你弱小的人,这样很不公平。

Bù yào qīfu bǐ nǐ ruòxiǎo de rén, zhèyàng hěn bù gōngpíng.

Don't bully those who are weaker than you; that's very unfair.

他总是欺负别人来掩饰自己的不自信。

Tā zǒng shì qīfu biérén lái yǎnshì zìjǐ de bù zìxìn.

He always bullies others to cover up his own insecurity.