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Kotomora

罵

abuse, insult

StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes15

Readings

On'yomi

  • バ

Kun'yomi

  • ののし.る

Meaning

罵 centers on harsh, attacking language: verbal abuse and insults meant to hurt or belittle someone.

Most common words using 罵

  • 罵倒ばとう

    (verbal) abuse; denunciation; disparagement; vilification; scathing criticism

  • 罵るののしる
    N2

    to abuse (verbally); to curse at; to shout abuse at; to speak ill of

  • 罵声ばせい

    shout of abuse; jeers; boos

  • 罵りののしり

    abuse; curse; swearing; insult

  • 罵詈ばり

    (verbal) abuse; abusive language

  • 漫罵まんば

    revilement; derision

  • 冷罵れいば

    sneer; scoffing; abuse

  • 卑罵語ひばご

    pejorative term; derogatory word; invective

  • 叱罵しつば

    angry scolding; abusive criticism

  • 嘲罵ちょうば

    (verbal) abuse; insulting remark; taunt

  • 悪罵あくば

    curse; vilification

  • 痛罵つうば

    abuse; invective; denunciation; sharp criticism

  • 罵り合うののしりあう

    to insult each other; to trade insults; to abuse each other verbally

  • 罵り言葉ののしりことば

    abusive language; expletive; swear word; curse word

  • 罵言ばげん

    (verbal) abuse; abusive language

  • 罵詈讒謗ばりざんぼう

    reviling; vilification; abusive language; lashing someone using abusive language; speaking abusively of someone

  • 罵詈雑言ばりぞうごん

    all manner of (verbal) abuse; all kinds of names; abusive language; torrent of abuse; stream of insults

  • 面罵めんば

    abusing someone to his (her) face

  • 面罵罵倒めんばばとう

    abuse

Explore all words using 罵 →

Study

Etymology

罵 combines 罒 (a net, here suggesting entanglement or attack) with 馬 (horse), likely expressing the idea of scolding or attacking with words, as if lashing out at a horse. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the components suggest a semantic compound.

Meaning mnemonic

Imagine a net (罒) thrown over a horse (馬), trapping it while someone shouts insults. The trapped horse represents the target of verbal abuse.

Reading mnemonic

For バ, picture a horse (馬) being insulted and responding with a loud, angry 'Ba!' sound. The horse's 'Ba!' cues the reading バ.