bàolì: 暴力 - Violence, Force

Keywords: baoli, 暴力, Chinese word for violence, meaning of baoli, domestic violence in Chinese, use of force, bàolì, school bullying, violent behavior in Chinese.

Summary: 暴力 (bàolì) is the primary Chinese word for “violence” or “brute force.” It carries a strong negative connotation, referring to the illegitimate and harmful use of physical power that disrupts social harmony. Understanding 暴力 is key to discussing topics from domestic violence (家庭暴力) and school bullying to media censorship and crime, reflecting deep-seated cultural values that prioritize order over confrontation.

Pinyin (with tone marks): bàolì

Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: The use of extreme physical force intended to harm, damage, or kill; violence.

In a Nutshell: Think of 暴力 (bàolì) not just as “force,” but as destructive, chaotic, and illegitimate power. It's the kind of force that breaks things—whether it's laws, bones, or social trust. In a culture that highly values harmony (和谐, héxié), 暴力 is seen as a fundamental failure of civilized behavior.

暴 (bào): This character means “violent,” “cruel,” or “sudden.” It depicts a sense of abrupt and brutal action.

力 (lì): This character is a pictograph of a strong arm or a plow, meaning “power,” “force,” or “strength.”

Together, 暴力 (bàolì) literally translates to “violent force.” The combination leaves no room for ambiguity—it's not just any power, but power used in a cruel and destructive way.

In traditional Chinese philosophy (particularly Confucianism and Taoism), the ideal state is one of 和谐 (héxié) - harmony. Social order, respect, and non-confrontation are paramount. In this framework, 暴力 (bàolì) is not just a crime but a profound social ill. It represents a complete breakdown of reason, relationships, and societal norms. It is the antithesis of a civilized society.

Comparison to Western Culture: While violence is viewed negatively in the West, its portrayal can be more ambivalent. Action heroes often use violence to achieve a “greater good,” and a certain “might makes right” philosophy can be celebrated. In contrast, Chinese culture tends to view the resort to 暴力 as a sign of failure or lack of a better, more intelligent solution. The state is seen as the only legitimate wielder of force (武力, wǔlì), and individual violence is a direct challenge to its authority and the collective social fabric.

暴力 (bàolì) is a common and serious term used in various modern contexts. Its connotation is almost always negative and severe.

*Domestic and School Violence * This is one of the most common contexts for the term. 家庭暴力 (jiātíng bàolì), or domestic violence, and 校园暴力 (xiàoyuán bàolì), school violence or bullying, are major social issues frequently discussed in Chinese media and society. In Media and Law * The term is used formally in legal and news contexts to describe crimes. You will often hear phrases like 暴力犯罪 (bàolì fànzuì), “violent crime,” or see warnings for 暴力镜头 (bàolì jìngtóu), “violent scenes,” in movies or TV shows. Figurative and Technical Usage * While less common for beginners, 暴力 can describe a “brute-force” method. In computer science, 暴力破解 (bàolì pòjiě) means a “brute-force attack” to crack a password. This extends the core meaning of using overwhelming, artless force to solve a problem. ===== Example Sentences ===== * Example 1: * 我们必须采取行动，制止暴力。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū cǎiqǔ xíngdòng, zhìzhǐ bàolì. * English: We must take action to stop the violence. * Analysis: A general and formal statement, often used by officials or in news reports. It treats 暴力 as a societal problem that needs to be solved. * Example 2: * 家庭暴力是一个严重的社会问题。 * Pinyin: Jiātíng bàolì shì yīgè yánzhòng de shèhuì wèntí. * English: Domestic violence is a serious social problem. * Analysis: This uses the very common collocation 家庭暴力 (jiātíng bàolì). It's a set phrase you should memorize. * Example 3: * 他因为暴力行为被学校开除了。 * Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi bàolì xíngwéi bèi xuéxiào kāichú le. * English: He was expelled from school for violent behavior. * Analysis: Here, 暴力 acts as an adjective modifying 行为 (xíngwéi - behavior). This is a common grammatical structure. * Example 4: * 这部电影包含太多暴力和血腥的镜头。 * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng bāohán tài duō bàolì hé xuèxīng de jìngtóu. * English: This movie contains too many violent and bloody scenes. * Analysis: A typical sentence for describing media content. 暴力 is used as a descriptor for 镜头 (jìngtóu - scenes/shots). * Example 5: * 解决问题不能靠暴力，要靠沟通。 * Pinyin: Jiějué wèntí bùnéng kào bàolì, yào kào gōutōng. * English: You can't rely on violence to solve problems, you have to rely on communication. * Analysis: This sentence perfectly encapsulates the cultural preference for harmony and dialogue over physical conflict. * Example 6: * 警方谴责了抗议活动中的暴力事件。 * Pinyin: Jǐngfāng qiǎnzéle kàngyì huódòng zhōng de bàolì shìjiàn. * English: The police condemned the violent incidents during the protest. * Analysis: Demonstrates the formal use of the term in a news or official context. 事件 (shìjiàn) means “incident.” * Example 7: * 他的童年充满了暴力和忽视。 * Pinyin: Tā de tóngnián chōngmǎnle bàolì hé hūshì. * English: His childhood was full of violence and neglect. * Analysis: Shows how 暴力 can be used to describe a general condition or atmosphere over a period of time. * Example 8: * 有些人认为网络游戏会美化暴力。 * Pinyin: Yǒuxiē rén rènwéi wǎngluò yóuxì huì měihuà bàolì. * English: Some people believe that online games glorify violence. * Analysis: 美化 (měihuà) means “to beautify” or “to glorify.” This is a common critique of modern media. * Example 9: * 语言暴力的伤害也很大。 * Pinyin: Yǔyán bàolì de shānghài yě hěn dà. * English: The harm from verbal violence is also significant. * Analysis: An important example of a more abstract usage. 语言暴力 (yǔyán bàolì) refers to verbal abuse, showing that the concept can extend beyond purely physical harm. * Example 10: * 黑客使用了暴力破解的方法来获取密码。 * Pinyin: Hēikè shǐyòngle bàolì pòjiě de fāngfǎ lái huòqǔ mìmǎ. * English: The hacker used a brute-force cracking method to get the password. * Analysis: This is the specific technical usage. It captures the essence of using overwhelming, un-strategic force to achieve a goal. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * False Friend: “Force” vs. 暴力 (bàolì) * A major pitfall for English speakers is equating 暴力 with the English word “force.” “Force” can be neutral or even positive (e.g., “a police force,” “the force of gravity,” “a force for good”). * 暴力 is almost exclusively negative and implies illegitimate, harmful force. It is never used for neutral concepts like the laws of physics. * Incorrect Usage: To say “The force of his argument was powerful,” you cannot say: * 他论点的暴力很强。 (Tā lùndiǎn de bàolì hěn qiáng.) * Why it's wrong: This incorrectly implies his argument was physically violent or abusive. * Correct Usage: You should use a neutral word like 力量 (lìliàng) or phrase it differently: * 他的论点很有力量。 (Tā de lùndiǎn hěn yǒu lìliàng**.)

力量 (lìliàng) - Strength, power, force. The neutral or positive counterpart to 暴力. This is the “force” of an argument or a person's inner strength.

武力 (wǔlì) - Armed force, military force. Refers specifically to the state-sanctioned power of the military or police. More formal and specific than 暴力.

和谐 (héxié) - Harmony. The cultural antonym of 暴力. The goal of society is to maintain 和谐 and avoid 暴力.

欺负 (qīfu) - To bully, to pick on. A more personal and often less severe term. Bullying can involve 暴力, but can also be purely social or verbal.

攻击 (gōngjī) - To attack. A verb describing the action of violence. Can be used for physical attacks, military attacks, or even verbal attacks.

强迫 (qiángpò) - To force, to compel. This focuses on coercion—making someone do something against their will—which may or may not involve physical violence.

斗殴 (dòu'ōu) - To brawl, to scuffle, to engage in a group fight. Describes a specific type of mutual, chaotic violence.

侵犯 (qīnfàn) - To violate, to infringe upon. A formal, often legal term used for violating rights, sovereignty, or personal space.