折磨

zhé

Traditional: 折磨

#1884 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

to torment, to torture, suffering

Word origin

A compound of 折 (zhé, to break, to bend) and 磨 (mó, to grind), evoking the breaking and grinding down of body or spirit.

Origin
compound
Root
折 (zhé, to break) + 磨 (mó, to grind)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 折

Stroke order for 磨

Examples

The illness tormented him for many years.

Stop tormenting yourself.

Waiting is a kind of torment.

This problem has been tormenting me all along.

The war brought endless suffering to the people.

折磨 (zhé mó) means to torment or torture, used for physical pain, illness, or prolonged mental anguish. It can also serve as a noun for the suffering itself.

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This word is part of lesson 38.