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暴力 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
暴力bàolìviolenceHSK 6, n, 17 strokes, rank #1817, Hard
暴力bàolìforceHSK 6, n, 17 strokes, rank #1817, Hard
暴力bàolìviolentHSK 6, n, 17 strokes, rank #1817, Hard
bàolì(bao4li4)bao li T4
  1. 1violence
  2. 2force
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March 24, 2026

暴力bàolì(bao4li4)

暴力 (bàolì) refers to the use of physical force intended to harm or intimidate. It is commonly used in contexts discussing crime, conflicts, or social issues. This term can encompass both physical violence and more abstract forms of coercion.

Strokes17Frequency#1817DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, discussions about '暴力' are often tied to social harmony and the collective responsibility of maintaining peace, reflecting the value placed on community over individual actions.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'violent' storm (暴) that suddenly unleashes its 'force' (力) on the unsuspecting town. The storm symbolizes unpredictable and destructive power, similar to how '暴力' represents violent behavior.

Meanings of 暴力

bàolì(bao4li4)
1violence
2force
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 暴力

暴力Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1817Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 暴力

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Podcast: 暴力

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AI study notes for 暴力

Quick Contrast

暴力 (bàolì) vs 冲突 (chōngtū) — choose 暴力 when emphasizing physical force, while 冲突 refers more to conflict or disagreement without necessarily involving violence.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when discussing '暴力' as it often carries a negative connotation. It is typically used in serious contexts, like news reports or academic discussions, rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include '暴力行为' (violent behavior) and '暴力事件' (violent incident).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, '暴力' connects with other advanced vocabulary related to social issues and emotional states. Students should focus on the nuances and contexts in which this term is used, particularly in discussions on law and ethics.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 暴力 with 力 (lì), which means 'force' without the violent connotation. For example, saying '我喜欢暴力' (I like force) instead of '我喜欢力量' (I like strength) can be misleading and inappropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 暴力

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Component characters

暴bàosudden
15 strokes日
View full entry
力lìpower
HSK 52 strokes力
View full entry

How to say violence in Chinese

“violence” in Chinese is暴力bàolì

暴力 (bàolì) refers to the use of physical force intended to harm or intimidate. It is commonly used in contexts discussing crime, conflicts, or social issues. This term can encompass both physical violence and more abstract forms of coercion.

When to use 暴力

Be cautious when discussing '暴力' as it often carries a negative connotation. It is typically used in serious contexts, like news reports or academic discussions, rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include '暴力行为' (violent behavior) and '暴力事件' (violent incident).

暴力 or something close to it

暴力 (bàolì) vs 冲突 (chōngtū) — choose 暴力 when emphasizing physical force, while 冲突 refers more to conflict or disagreement without necessarily involving violence.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 暴力 with 力 (lì), which means 'force' without the violent connotation. For example, saying '我喜欢暴力' (I like force) instead of '我喜欢力量' (I like strength) can be misleading and inappropriate.

Write 暴力

暴
力

Practice writing 暴力 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 暴力

暴力 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

公民抗命，不管是____还是非暴力的，都是故意犯法。

Civil disobedience, violent or non-violent, is intentional law breaking.

Example sentences for 暴力 (10)

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1
公民抗命，不管是暴力还是非暴力的，都是故意犯法。

gōngmín kàng mìng， bùguǎn shì bàolì háishi fēi bàolì de， dōushì gùyì fàn fǎ。

Civil disobedience, violent or non-violent, is intentional law breaking.
2
最近暴力行为激增，这已经打击了公众的信心。

zuìjìn bàolì xíngwéi jīzēng， zhè yǐjīng dǎjī le gōngzhòng de xìnxīn。

The recent spurt in violence has demoralised the public.
3
在该国不同的地区发生了群体暴力事件。

zài gāi guó bùtóng de dìqū fāshēng le qúntǐ bàolì shìjiàn。

Communal violence broke out in different parts of the country.
4
这一证据证实了他们的观点，即此次突发暴力事件是有预谋的。

zhè yī zhèngjù zhèngshí le tāmen de guāndiǎn， jí cǐcì tūfā bàolì shìjiàn shì yǒu yù móu de。

This evidence supports their contention that the outbreak of violence was prearranged.
5
在彼得斯堡，过去5年中有30名巡警死于暴力事件。

zài bǐ de Sī bǎo， guòqù5 nián zhōng yǒu30 míng xún jǐng sǐ yú bàolì shìjiàn。

In Petersburg, 30 patrolmen have died violently in the past five years.
6
他是宗派暴力中的第5个罹难者。

tā shì zōngpài bàolì zhōng de dì5 gè lí nán zhě。

He was the fifth person to be killed in sectarian violence.
7
那是个集体丧失理智、谋杀与暴力合法化的时期。

nà shì gè jítǐ sàngshī lǐzhì、 móu shā yǔ bàolì héfǎ huà de shíqī。

It was a period of collective insanity, of legalized murder and mayhem.
8
种种迹象表明选举将会是非暴力的、公正的。

zhǒngzhǒng jìxiàng biǎomíng xuǎnjǔ jiāng huì shìfēi bàolì de、 gōngzhèng de。

The signs suggest that the elections will be non-violent and fair.
9
约翰似乎和我一样害怕他自己会使用暴力。

yāo hàn sìhū hé wǒ yíyàng hàipà tā zìjǐ huì shǐyòng bàolì。

John seemed as horrified as I about his potential for violence.
10
孩子们经常会目睹暴力事件，其数量之多令人不安。

háizi men jīngcháng huì mùdǔ bàolì shìjiàn， qí shùliàng zhī duō lìng rén bù’ān。

Too often children are witness to a disturbing amount of violence.

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Frequently asked questions about 暴力

Common phrases include '暴力犯罪' (violent crime) and '家庭暴力' (domestic violence).

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