qīnfàn: 侵犯 - To Violate, To Infringe On, To Encroach

• Keywords: qinfan, 侵犯, qinfan meaning, what does qinfan mean, how to use qinfan, Chinese for violate, Chinese for infringe, Chinese for encroach, Chinese for privacy, 侵犯隐私, 侵犯主权, 侵犯版权, legal Chinese terms, HSK 6 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese word 侵犯 (qīnfàn), a formal term meaning to violate, infringe on, or encroach. This page breaks down its meaning, from violating personal privacy (`侵犯隐私`) and copyright (`侵犯版权`) to infringing on national sovereignty (`侵犯主权`). Understand its serious connotation, its use in legal and political contexts, and how to use it correctly without sounding overly dramatic in daily conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qīnfàn
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To violate, infringe upon, or encroach on something, typically rights, boundaries, or territory.
• In a Nutshell: 侵犯 (qīnfàn) is a strong, formal word that signifies a serious violation or crossing of a boundary. Think of it as a “No Trespassing” sign for abstract concepts like rights, privacy, and sovereignty, as well as physical territory. It's not for minor annoyances; it implies an aggressive and illegitimate action that harms or disrespects the rights of another party, be it a person, a company, or a country.

• 侵 (qīn): This character means “to invade, to encroach, to aggress.” The left part, 亻, is the “person” radical. The right part suggests an action of entering or sweeping into another's domain. It carries the core idea of an external force moving into a space where it doesn't belong.
• 犯 (fàn): This character means “to violate, to offend, to commit a crime.” The left part, 犭, is the “dog” radical, often associated with wildness or aggression. The combination suggests an attack or an offense against a rule or person.
• Together, 侵犯 (qīnfàn) combines “to invade” (侵) with “to violate” (犯), creating a forceful term that means “to aggressively violate” or “to encroach upon in an offensive manner.” It’s an invasion that is also a crime or a serious offense.

侵犯 (qīnfàn) is a cornerstone of modern Chinese legal and political language. Its usage reflects a society navigating the complexities of individual rights, intellectual property, and national identity. In political discourse, phrases like 侵犯主权 (qīnfàn zhǔquán), “to violate sovereignty,” are used with utmost seriousness in official statements and news reports regarding international relations. It frames territorial or political disputes as a grave violation of the nation's integrity. On a personal level, the concept of 隐私 (yǐnsī), or privacy, has gained significant traction in recent decades, especially with the rise of the internet. While traditionally, Chinese culture has been more collectivist, the notion of personal space and data protection is now firmly established. Accusing someone of 侵犯隐私 (qīnfàn yǐnsī), “violating privacy,” is a serious charge, reflecting a modernizing view of individual rights. This can be contrasted with the Western concept of “violation.” While the legal meanings are very similar, 侵犯 (qīnfàn) often carries a stronger, more inherent sense of “invasion” or “encroachment” due to the character 侵. It's less about a philosophical breach of an abstract right and more about a tangible crossing of a line into someone else's domain, be it physical, digital, or legal.

侵犯 (qīnfàn) is almost always used in formal or serious contexts. You will rarely hear it in casual, everyday chat unless someone is genuinely upset.

• Legal and Formal Settings: This is its most common habitat. It's used in legal documents, news reports, and official warnings.
  • `侵犯版权 (qīnfàn bǎnquán)` - Copyright infringement
  • `侵犯商标权 (qīnfàn shāngbiāo quán)` - Trademark infringement
  • `侵犯名誉权 (qīnfàn míngyù quán)` - Defamation / Libel (infringing on the right to one's reputation)
  • `侵犯肖像权 (qīnfàn xiàoxiàng quán)` - Infringing on portrait rights (using someone's image without permission)
• Serious Personal Accusations: When used between individuals, it signals that a major boundary has been crossed. It is not a word to be used lightly.
  • `你这是在侵犯我的个人空间！` (You are encroaching on my personal space!) - Said in anger, not as a simple request for more room.
  • `请不要侵犯我的隐私。` (Please do not violate my privacy.) - A very direct and serious request.
• As a Noun: It can also function as a noun, meaning “an infringement” or “a violation.”
  • `这种行为是一种严重的侵犯。` (This type of behavior is a serious violation.)

• Example 1:
  • 未经许可，复制和分发该软件是对版权的侵犯。
  • Pinyin: Wèijīng xǔkě, fùzhì hé fēnfā gāi ruǎnjiàn shì duì bǎnquán de qīnfàn.
  • English: Copying and distributing this software without permission is a violation of copyright.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of 侵犯 used in a formal, legal context regarding intellectual property.

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• Example 2:
  • 任何国家都无权侵犯别国的主权和领土完整。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé guójiā dōu wú quán qīnfàn biéguó de zhǔquán hé lǐngtǔ wánzhěng.
  • English: No country has the right to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of another country.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the term's use in international politics. It is strong, formal, and definitive.

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• Example 3:
  • 他偷看我的日记，严重侵犯了我的隐私。
  • Pinyin: Tā tōukàn wǒ de rìjì, yánzhòng qīnfàn le wǒ de yǐnsī.
  • English: He read my diary behind my back, which seriously violated my privacy.
  • Analysis: Here, 侵犯 is used in a personal context, but the word `严重 (yánzhòng)`, “seriously,” highlights that this is not a minor issue.

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• Example 4:
  • 记者们不应该为了新闻而侵犯名人的私生活。
  • Pinyin: Jìzhěmen bù yīnggāi wèile xīnwén ér qīnfàn míngrén de sīshēnghuó.
  • English: Journalists shouldn't infringe upon the private lives of celebrities for the sake of news.
  • Analysis: This sentence discusses the ethical boundaries of a profession. `私生活 (sīshēnghuó)` means “private life.”

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• Example 5:
  • 在网上随意发布他人照片，可能会侵犯他人的肖像权。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǎngshàng suíyì fābù tārén zhàopiàn, kěnéng huì qīnfàn tārén de xiàoxiàng quán.
  • English: Randomly posting other people's photos online may infringe upon their portrait rights.
  • Analysis: This is a very relevant modern example concerning online behavior and legal rights in China.

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• Example 6:
  • 我感觉我的个人界限被侵犯了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gǎnjué wǒ de gèrén jièxiàn bèi qīnfàn le.
  • English: I feel like my personal boundaries have been violated.
  • Analysis: This shows the passive voice structure (`被…侵犯了`) and its use for more abstract, psychological boundaries (`界限 jièxiàn`).

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• Example 7:
  • 性侵犯是一种严重的刑事犯罪。
  • Pinyin: Xìng qīnfàn shì yī zhǒng yánzhòng de xíngshì fànzuì.
  • English: Sexual assault is a serious criminal offense.
  • Analysis: 侵犯 is the core of the term `性侵犯 (xìngqīnfàn)`, sexual assault/violation. This is one of its most serious applications.

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• Example 8:
  • 公司的这项新规定被员工认为是侵犯了他们的合法权利。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de zhè xiàng xīn guīdìng bèi yuángōng rènwéi shì qīnfàn le tāmen de héfǎ quánlì.
  • English: This new company rule was seen by employees as an infringement on their legal rights.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a common scenario in labor relations, where actions are framed as a violation of rights (`权利 quánlì`).

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• Example 9:
  • 我们必须采取措施，防止我们的网络系统受到侵犯。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū cǎiqǔ cuòshī, fángzhǐ wǒmen de wǎngluò xìtǒng shòudào qīnfàn.
  • English: We must take measures to prevent our network system from being breached/violated.
  • Analysis: Here, 侵犯 is used in the context of cybersecurity, similar to “breach,” “intrusion,” or “violation.”

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• Example 10:
  • 在公共场合大声播放音乐，可以被视为对他人安宁的侵犯。
  • Pinyin: Zài gōnggòng chǎnghé dàshēng bōfàng yīnyuè, kěyǐ bèi shìwéi duì tārén ānníng de qīnfàn.
  • English: Playing loud music in public can be considered an infringement on others' peace and quiet.
  • Analysis: This is a softer usage, but still frames the action as a violation of a right—the right to a peaceful environment (`安宁 ānníng`).

• Mistake 1: Overusing it for minor annoyances.
  • A common mistake for learners is to use 侵犯 for small problems where a native speaker would use a much lighter word like `打扰 (dǎrǎo - to bother)` or just express annoyance.
  • Incorrect: `他借了我的笔没还，他侵犯了我的权利！` (He borrowed my pen and didn't return it, he violated my rights!)
  • Why it's wrong: This is far too dramatic and legalistic. It sounds absurd.
  • Correct: `他借了我的笔还没还，真烦人！` (He borrowed my pen and still hasn't returned it, so annoying!)
• Mistake 2: Confusing it with “invade” in a friendly context.
  • In English, you can say “My friends invaded my apartment for a surprise party.” You absolutely cannot use 侵犯 for this.
  • Incorrect: `我的朋友们侵犯了我的公寓，给了我一个惊喜。`
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds like your friends committed a hostile home invasion. 侵犯 always has a negative and aggressive connotation.
  • Correct: `我的朋友们突然来到我家里，给了我一个惊喜。` (My friends suddenly came to my home and gave me a surprise.)
• Difference from 违反 (wéifǎn):
  • `违反 (wéifǎn)` means to violate a specific rule, law, or agreement. It's about breaking a regulation. (e.g., `违反交通规则` - to violate traffic rules).
  • `侵犯 (qīnfàn)` means to violate someone's rights, space, or sovereignty. It's about harming or encroaching upon a person or entity.
  • You violate a rule (`违反规则`), but you infringe on a right (`侵犯权利`).

• `侵略 (qīnlüè)` - Aggression; Invasion. Much stronger than 侵犯, almost exclusively used for military invasion of a country.
• `骚扰 (sāorǎo)` - To harass; to molest. Describes persistent, annoying, or inappropriate actions. It's the root of `性骚扰 (xìngsāorǎo)`, sexual harassment.
• `干涉 (gānshè)` - To interfere; to meddle. Less aggressive than 侵犯. Often used for meddling in someone's personal affairs or the internal affairs of another country (`干涉内政`).
• `冒犯 (màofàn)` - To offend. Relates to words or actions that are disrespectful or insulting, but it's not typically a legal violation.
• `违反 (wéifǎn)` - To violate (a rule, law, contract). A general term for breaking established regulations.
• `权利 (quánlì)` - Rights. The abstract concept that is often the object of 侵犯.
• `主权 (zhǔquán)` - Sovereignty. A key political concept often paired with 侵犯 in discussions of international law.
• `隐私 (yǐnsī)` - Privacy. A person's right to privacy, which can be 侵犯'd.
• `版权 (bǎnquán)` - Copyright. Intellectual property rights that can be 侵犯'd.
• `打扰 (dǎrǎo)` - To disturb; to bother. A much milder, everyday term for minor interruptions. The opposite of 侵犯 in terms of severity.