← IDIOMS · WISDOM
HSK 7-9
shāng伤injurefēng风custombài败ruinsú俗custom
Offensive to public morals; harmful to social customs; immoral.

Literal meaning

injure (伤) — custom (风) — ruin (败) — custom (俗)

Origin

Describes behavior that is considered harmful or offensive to social customs and morals. A classical four-character phrase.

Examples

zhè这zhǒng种shāng伤fēng风bài败sú俗de的xíng行wéi为yīng应gāi该shòu受dào到qiǎn谴zé责。
This kind of behavior that is offensive to public morals should be condemned.
tā他de的yán言lùn论shāng伤fēng风bài败sú俗,yǐn引qǐ起le了gōng公zhòng众de的qiáng强liè烈bù不mǎn满。
His remarks were harmful to social customs and caused strong public dissatisfaction.

Usage & nuances

Strongly negative, used to condemn immoral or offensive behavior.

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