abuse

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 虐 is read ぎゃく, has 9 strokes, and relates to abuse or oppression.
• Basic usage: 虐待 is read ぎゃくたい, and 虐げる is read しいたげる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 虐待 and 虐げる
  • 虐待 means abuse or mistreatment.
  • 授業で動物虐待を題材にした物語について話し合った。 means “In class, we discussed a story about animal abuse.”
  • 虐げる means oppress or abuse.
  • 弱い者を虐げる王に民衆が立ち向かった。 means “The people opposed the king who oppressed the weak.”