Definition
用刑 means 'to apply torture' or 'to use corporal punishment'. It is a separable verb (离合词): the object 刑 can be separated from 用 by measure words, adjectives, or duration, as in 用了三天刑 ('applied torture for three days') or 用过重刑 ('used severe torture'). The subject is usually a legal authority (court, police, interrogator). You can also insert modifiers like 重 (severe) or 私 (illegal) before 刑.
v.o.
to apply tortureto use corporal punishmentto put someone to torture
Examples
- 用刑。Bù néng suíbiàn duì fànrén yòng xíng.You cannot casually torture prisoners.
- 。Tāmen duì tā yòng le zhòng xíng.They applied severe torture to him.
- 用刑。Guòqù jǐngchá jīngcháng yòng xíng bīgòng.In the past, police often tortured to extract confessions.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.