treat harshly; be severe with
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to treat harshly; to be severe with
formalDescribes unfair, strict, or unkind treatment, often by someone in a position of authority. The tone is negative and formal.
Tā他
cóng从
bù不
kē苛
dài待
xià下
shǔ属
，
fǎn反
ér而
fēi非
cháng常
kuān宽
róng容
。
He never treats his subordinates harshly; on the contrary, he is very tolerant.
Gōng公
sī司
yīn因
kē苛
dài待
yuán员
gōng工
ér而
shòu受
dào到
le了
yú舆
lùn论
de的
qiǎn谴
zé责
。
The company was condemned by public opinion for treating its employees harshly.
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Zhàn战
fú俘
bù不
yīng应
gāi该
shòu受
dào到
kē苛
dài待
。
Prisoners of war should not be treated harshly.
Jiù旧
shè社
huì会
de的
gù雇
zhǔ主
cháng常
cháng常
kē苛
dài待
xué学
tú徒
。
Employers in the old society often treated apprentices severely.