====== xíjī: 袭击 - To Attack, Raid, Assault ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** xiji, xí jī, 袭击, attack in Chinese, raid in Chinese, assault Chinese, surprise attack Chinese, what does xiji mean, Chinese HSK 5, military attack Chinese, terrorist attack
  * **Summary:** Learn the Chinese word **袭击 (xí jī)**, a crucial HSK 5 term meaning to attack, raid, or assault. This guide explores its specific meaning of a sudden, often surprise, physical attack, commonly used in news reports about military, terrorist, or criminal events. Understand how **袭击 (xí jī)** differs from the more general word for "attack" (攻击 gōngjī) and see practical examples of its use in modern Chinese.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xí jī
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb / Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** To launch a sudden or surprise attack on a target.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **袭击 (xí jī)** isn't just any attack; it's a serious and formal word with a strong feeling of a sudden, premeditated raid or assault. Think of a commando raid, a terrorist attack, or a sudden ambush. It's the word you will see and hear constantly in news reports, historical documentaries, and official statements about violent conflicts.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **袭 (xí):** This character originally referred to inheriting something or putting on an extra layer of clothing. This evolved to mean "to make a surprise attack," carrying the idea of advancing on an enemy under cover or in disguise. The core idea for a learner is **"surprise raid"** or **"to advance upon."**
  * **击 (jī):** This character is more straightforward. The radical on the left, 扌, is a variation of 手 (shǒu), meaning "hand." The character depicts a hand striking something. Its meaning is simply **"to hit," "to strike,"** or **"to attack."**
When combined, **袭击 (xí jī)** literally means "to raid and strike." The combination reinforces the idea of a planned, sudden, and forceful physical assault.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While **袭击 (xí jī)** doesn't carry deep philosophical weight like concepts such as [[关系]] (guānxi), its cultural significance lies in its specific and formal usage in Chinese public discourse.
In English, the word "attack" is incredibly broad. You can "attack a problem," "suffer a heart attack," or launch a "verbal attack." The Chinese term **袭击 (xí jī)** is far more specific and almost exclusively refers to a **physical, violent assault with an element of surprise.**
This reflects a certain precision in the language used by Chinese media and official bodies. When you hear **袭击** on the news, there is no ambiguity: it refers to a physical act of violence, such as a military operation, a terrorist incident, or a serious criminal assault. A "verbal attack" would use a different word, like [[攻击]] (gōngjī) or [[辱骂]] (rǔmà). Understanding this distinction is key to comprehending the severity and context of events as reported in China.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**袭击 (xí jī)** is a formal word you will encounter most frequently in written and spoken news, official announcements, and historical accounts.
  *   **News and Media:** This is the primary context. Reports on military conflicts, terrorist activities, or violent crime will almost always use **袭击**.
    *   e.g., "A report on the recent terrorist **袭击** (attack)."
  *   **As a Noun:** It is commonly used as a noun, often paired with measure words like [[场]] (chǎng) or [[次]] (cì).
    *   e.g., "The city experienced a surprise **袭击** (a surprise attack)."
  *   **Law and Order:** Police reports might describe how a victim was **袭击** (assaulted) or how police units **袭击** (raided) a criminal hideout.
  *   **Figurative Usage:** While less common, it can be used figuratively for sudden, destructive events, like a computer virus or a natural disaster.
    *   e.g., "A new virus **袭击** (attacked) thousands of computers."
You would not use **袭击** in casual, everyday conversation for minor things. For example, you wouldn't say your friend "袭击" you as a joke. It always implies seriousness and violence.
===== Example Sentences =====
  *   **Example 1:**
    *   恐怖分子**袭击**了市中心的火车站。
    *   Pinyin: Kǒngbù fènzǐ **xíjī**le shìzhōngxīn de huǒchēzhàn.
    *   English: The terrorists attacked the city center's train station.
    *   Analysis: This is a classic, textbook use of **袭击** in the context of terrorism, as seen in news reports.
  *   **Example 2:**
    *   这支特种部队在夜间**袭击**了敌人的指挥部。
    *   Pinyin: Zhè zhī tèzhǒng bùduì zài yèjiān **xíjī**le dírén de zhǐhuī bù.
    *   English: This special forces unit raided the enemy's command post at night.
    *   Analysis: Here, **袭击** translates best as "raided," highlighting the military context and the element of surprise (at night).
  *   **Example 3:**
    *   他在回家的路上遭到了不明人士的**袭击**。
    *   Pinyin: Tā zài huíjiā de lùshang zāodào le bùmíng rénshì de **xíjī**.
    *   English: He was assaulted by unknown persons on his way home.
    *   Analysis: This sentence shows **袭击** used for a criminal assault. The passive structure with [[遭到]] (zāodào - to suffer/encounter) is common when describing victims.
  *   **Example 4:**
    *   昨晚的**袭击**事件造成了三人受伤。
    *   Pinyin: Zuówǎn de **xíjī** shìjiàn zàochéngle sān rén shòushāng.
    *   English: Last night's attack resulted in three people being injured.
    *   Analysis: Here, **袭击** is used as a noun ("attack"). [[事件]] (shìjiàn) means "incident."
  *   **Example 5:**
    *   野生动物保护区的游客被一只熊**袭击**了。
    *   Pinyin: Yěshēng dòngwù bǎohùqū de yóukè bèi yī zhī xióng **xíjī**le.
    *   English: A tourist in the wildlife reserve was attacked by a bear.
    *   Analysis: This shows that **袭击** can also apply to sudden animal attacks.
  *   **Example 6:**
    *   黑客**袭击**了该公司的服务器，窃取了大量数据。
    *   Pinyin: Hēikè **xíjī**le gāi gōngsī de fúwùqì, qièqǔle dàliàng shùjù.
    *   English: Hackers attacked the company's servers, stealing a large amount of data.
    *   Analysis: A common figurative use of **袭击** in the context of cybersecurity.
  *   **Example 7:**
    *   珍珠港**袭击**是第二次世界大战的重要转折点。
    *   Pinyin: Zhēnzhūgǎng **xíjī** shì Dì'èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn de zhòngyào zhuǎnzhédiǎn.
    *   English: The attack on Pearl Harbor was a major turning point in World War II.
    *   Analysis: Demonstrates its use in a major historical context, where **袭击** is used as a noun.
  *   **Example 8:**
    *   一股强冷空气即将**袭击**我国北方地区。
    *   Pinyin: Yī gǔ qiáng lěngkōngqì jíjiāng **xíjī** wǒguó běifāng dìqū.
    *   English: A strong cold air mass is about to hit the northern regions of our country.
    *   Analysis: Another figurative use, common in weather forecasting, where the weather event is personified as an attacker. "Hit" is a good translation here.
  *   **Example 9:**
    *   警方成功阻止了一次针对大使馆的**袭击**计划。
    *   Pinyin: Jǐngfāng chénggōng zǔzhǐle yī cì zhēnduì dàshǐguǎn de **xíjī** jìhuà.
    *   English: The police successfully thwarted a planned attack against the embassy.
    *   Analysis: **袭击** is used as a noun, modified by [[计划]] (jìhuà), meaning "plan."
  *   **Example 10:**
    *   我们必须准备好应对任何形式的**袭击**。
    *   Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū zhǔnbèi hǎo yìngduì rènhé xíngshì de **xíjī**.
    *   English: We must be prepared to respond to any form of attack.
    *   Analysis: A formal statement where **袭击** (noun) refers to potential future assaults.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  *   **袭击 (xí jī) vs. 攻击 (gōng jī):** This is the most critical distinction.
    *   **攻击 (gōng jī)** is the general word for "attack." It can be physical, verbal, abstract, or even used in sports. (e.g., 攻击对方的弱点 - attack the opponent's weakness).
    *   **袭击 (xí jī)** is specific. It implies a **sudden, physical, and often premeditated assault.** It is almost never used for verbal or abstract attacks.
    *   **Mistake:** Saying "他用尖锐的言语**袭击**我。" (He **xíjī**'d me with sharp words.)
    *   **Correction:** "他用尖锐的言语**攻击**我。" (He **gōngjī**'d me with sharp words.)
  *   **Formality:** Remember, **袭击** is a formal word. In casual conversation among friends, it would sound overly dramatic. If your little brother jumps out to scare you, he didn't **袭击** you. The word carries a heavy, serious weight.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[攻击]] (gōngjī) - The general, all-purpose word for "attack." **袭击** is a specific type of **攻击**.
  *   [[突袭]] (tūxí) - A sudden raid. The character [[突]] (tū) means "sudden," so this term places even more emphasis on the element of surprise than **袭击**.
  *   [[偷袭]] (tōuxí) - A sneak attack or ambush. The character [[偷]] (tōu) means "to steal," so this implies stealth and secrecy.
  *   [[侵袭]] (qīnxí) - To invade and attack. Often used for things that spread, like an army, a flood, or a disease (e.g., 病毒侵袭 - the virus invades/attacks).
  *   [[反击]] (fǎnjī) - To counter-attack or fight back. The opposite of initiating an attack.
  *   [[打击]] (dǎjī) - To strike, hit, or crack down on. Often used by authorities, e.g., [[打击犯罪]] (dǎjī fànzuì - to crack down on crime).
  *   [[暴力]] (bàolì) - Violence. A **袭击** is an act of **暴力**.
  *   [[恐怖主义]] (kǒngbùzhǔyì) - Terrorism. A common context in which the word **袭击** is used.
  *   [[埋伏]] (máifú) - To ambush; an ambush. This is a specific tactic that could be part of a larger **袭击**.