noun
suffering from maltreatment; being abused
Refers to the state of being subjected to cruelty or mistreatment, often used in contexts of abuse or oppression. The word is somewhat formal and may appear in discussions of psychology or social issues.
被虐の歴史を忘れてはいけない。
We must not forget the history of suffering from oppression.
彼は幼少期に被虐体験を受けた。
He experienced abuse in his childhood.
Compound of 被 (hi, 'receive, suffer') and 虐 (gyaku, 'oppress, torment'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination directly conveys the meaning of undergoing cruelty.