冤 (yuān) - Injustice, grievance, wrong & hatred, enmity

冤Tone 1

yuān ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

喻悦

冤 · yuān

Injustice, grievance, wrong;

hatred, enmity;

bad luck, poor fate;

to cheat, to fool.

Injustice, grievance, wronghatred, enmitybad luck, poor fate

Usage highlights

Injustice and grievanceWrongful caseDeepUnjust deathWronged ghostSettle a grievance

Synonyms

  • 枉— to treat unjustly, to twist
  • 屈— wrong, injustice
  • 仇— enemy, hatred

Antonyms

  • 恩— favor, kindness
  • 义— justice, righteousness
  • 正— upright, correct

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He suffered a great injustice (冤屈).
  • There is a deep enmity between them (冤仇).
  • Don't make me take the blame for nothing (别让我背黑锅, 冤!).
  • This is a wrongful conviction case (冤案).

Collocations

  • Injustice and grievance(冤屈)
  • Wrongful case(冤案)
  • Deep-seated hatred(冤仇)
  • Unjust death(冤死)
  • Wronged ghost(冤魂)
  • Settle a grievance(申冤)

Idioms

  • Bitter enemies and narrow paths(冤家路窄)
  • Wronged soul and creditor(冤家债主)
  • Redress an injustice and clear a name(沉冤昭雪)
  • Deep injustice and great grievance(沉冤莫白)
  • Not a relative but an enemy(不是冤家不聚头)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese belief, a person who dies unjustly may become a 'wronged ghost' (冤魂) seeking redress.
  • The character depicts a rabbit under a cover (冖), symbolizing being trapped or constrained unjustly.
  • The concept is central to many Chinese legal and literary themes about injustice and its rectification.

FAQ