Definition
上刑 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to apply torture' or 'to carry out corporal punishment' — typically used in historical or legal contexts. The verb 上 ('apply') can separate from the noun 刑 ('punishment') to insert duration, frequency, or result: 上了几次刑 ('was tortured several times'). Note that this word is also written as one unit in pre-modern texts; the pinyin given here (shǎng) is a non-standard reading — the common pronunciation is shàng xíng.
v.o.
to tortureto subject to severe corporal punishment (often in historical or legal contexts)
Examples
- ，上刑。Tā bèi zhuā jìnqù zhīhòu, zāoshòu le yánkù de shǎng.After being taken in, he suffered severe torture.
- ，。Shěnwèn de shíhou, tāmen gěi tā shàng le jǐ cì xíng.During the interrogation, they tortured him several times.
- 上刑。Xiǎoshuō lǐ miáoxiě le gǔdài láofáng lǐ shǎng de chǎngjǐng.The novel describes scenes of torture in ancient prisons.
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