Meaning and Usage
The character 劫 (jié) primarily means to seize or take by force, often used in contexts involving robbery, kidnapping, or coercion. It carries a strong connotation of violence or unlawful taking.
Common Contexts
- 劫案 (jié àn): robbery case, often referring to a serious crime like a bank robbery.
- 劫持 (jiézhì): to kidnap or hijack.
- 劫难 (jiénàn): calamity or disaster, often used in literary or historical contexts.
Collocations and Patterns
Usage Notes
When using 劫, the emphasis is on the forceful or violent nature of taking something. It is more formal and literary than everyday words like 抢 (qiǎng, to rob) or 偷 (tōu, to steal). 劫 is often found in news reports, historical texts, or formal descriptions of crimes and disasters.
Avoid confusing 劫 with 抢; 抢 is more common in spoken language for robbery, while 劫 has a stronger, more serious tone.