冤枉
yuān wang HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他被冤枉了,其实没犯错。
Tā bèi yuānwang le, qíshí méi fàncuò.
He was wronged; he actually didn't make a mistake.
别冤枉好人,要讲证据。
Bié yuānwang hǎorén, yào jiǎng zhèngjù.
Don't treat good people unjustly; you need evidence.
这真是个冤枉的判决。
Zhè zhēn shì gè yuānwang de pànjué.
This is truly a wrongful verdict.
你冤枉我了。
Nǐ yuānwang wǒ le.
You wronged me.
别冤枉好人。
Bié yuānwang hǎorén.
Don't wrong good people.

💡 Memory Tip

Break the characters down: 冤 (yuān) looks like a rabbit (儿) under a cover (冖), suggesting something trapped or covered up unjustly. 枉 (wang) contains 木 (tree/wood), which can imply something straight (like wood) being bent or twisted out of shape—just like the truth being twisted in a false accusation.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is used in both formal and informal contexts, and is common in both spoken and written Chinese. It frequently appears in legal discussions, personal complaints, news reports about wrongful convictions, and everyday situations where someone feels wrongly blamed.

📖 Grammar Points

It is primarily used as a verb. The most common structure is passive: 被 + (某人) + 冤枉 (e.g., 我被老师冤枉了). It can also be used as a stative verb/adjective, as in 我觉得很冤枉 (I feel very wronged).

🏯 Cultural Notes

The concept resonates deeply in Chinese culture, which historically values justice and clear moral standing. Stories of 冤案 (wrongful cases) are common in literature and opera, highlighting the cultural importance of vindication and clearing one's name.

🔄 Similar Words

委屈 (wěiqu) describes feeling wronged or hurt emotionally, often from unfair treatment, but is more about the internal feeling. 冤枉 focuses more on the objective act of being falsely accused or treated unjustly, often with concrete consequences.

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