Meaning of 威胁
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to threaten; to menace
How to use 威胁
威胁 works as a verb (to threaten) and also as a noun (a threat), often in news, politics, and health topics. It is common in the pattern 对……构成威胁 (to pose a threat to). Example: 污染威胁着我们的健康。(Wūrǎn wēixié zhe wǒmen de jiànkāng.) Pollution is threatening our health.
威 (wēi) means power or might, as in 威力 (wēilì), and 胁 (xié) has the flesh radical 月, so picture someone using their power to press against your ribs and sides. Using might to squeeze someone is to threaten them.
Common mistake: Learners often write 胁 with 力 on the left like 协 (xié, to assist), which has the same sound but a 十 radical. 胁 has 月 on the left. Also keep the first tone on 威 (wēi); do not say wěi.
威胁 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
威 wēi · might · 9 strokes
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胁 xié · to threaten · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 威胁.
| 威力 | wēilì | might; formidable power |
| 权威 | quánwēi | authority; authoritative |
| 示威 | shìwēi | to demonstrate (as a protest); a demonstration |
| 威风 | wēifēng | awe-inspiring bearing; authority; power; imposing; impressive; majestic |
| 威信 | wēixìn | prestige; reputation |
| 威慑 | wēishè | to deter |
| 助威 | zhùwēi | to cheer for; to encourage |
| 威士忌 | wēishìjì | whiskey (loanword) |
| 胁迫 | xiépò | to coerce; to compel |
| 示威者 | shìwēizhě | demonstrator; protester |
| 威严 | wēiyán | dignified; imposing |
| 威猛 | wēiměng | bold and powerful |
Questions about 威胁
What does 威胁 mean?
威胁 (wēixié) means "to threaten; to menace" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 威胁?
威胁 is made of 2 characters: 威 (9 strokes), 胁 (8 strokes). That is 17 strokes in total.
Is 威胁 an HSK word?
Yes. 威胁 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 威胁 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 威胁 is written 威脅.
How do you say 'to threaten someone to do something' with 威胁?
Use 威胁 + person + verb phrase, for example 他威胁我交钱 (tā wēixié wǒ jiāo qián), he threatened me into paying. You can also say 用……威胁 to show the means, as in 用刀威胁他 (yòng dāo wēixié tā), threatening him with a knife.
What is the difference between 威胁 and 威慑?
威胁 is a direct threat that suggests harm, often unfriendly. 威慑 (wēishè) means to deter, using shown strength to stop someone from acting, and it appears mostly in military or strategic contexts.