extort; make exorbitant demands
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to extort; to make exorbitant demands; to dun
literaryLiterary register. Often appears in the idiom 诛求无厌 (insatiable extortion). Used to describe oppressive extraction of wealth or resources, typically by those in power.
Guān官
fǔ府
zhū诛
qiú求
wú无
yàn厌
，
bǎi百
xìng姓
kǔ苦
bù不
kān堪
yán言
。
The government exacted insatiable levies, and the common people suffered unspeakably.
Tā他
duì对
xià下
shǔ属
zhū诛
qiú求
tài太
shèn甚
，
zuì最
zhōng终
dǎo导
zhì致
rén人
cái才
liú流
shī失
。
He made excessive demands on his subordinates, eventually causing a brain drain.
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Héng横
zhēng征
bào暴
liǎn敛
，
zhū诛
qiú求
bù不
yǐ已
。
They levied exorbitant taxes and extorted without end.