欺负
qīfù · HSK 6
to bully
😤👊 qīfù sounds like cheap foe — a bully who fights dirty
The cheap foe cheats (欺 = deceive) and loads burdens (负 = carry) on others. A bully who uses dirty tricks to weigh you down.
负 — person 𠂉 (人) on top + cowrie shell 贝
Originally depicted a person carrying cowrie shells (money), showing someone bearing a load or owing wealth. From this came the meanings 'to carry on the back,' 'to bear a burden,' and by extension 'to owe' or 'negative.' The simplified form 负 keeps 贝 (shell/money) under a person.