Bào Bù Píng: 抱不平 - Feeling Indignant About Injustice

Keywords: 抱不平, Chinese idiom, Chinese expression, 打抱不平, sense of justice, indignation, fairness in Chinese, Chinese social dynamics, HSK vocabulary, Chinese emotion vocabulary

Summary: 抱不平 (bào bù píng) is a powerful Chinese idiom that describes the feeling of indignation and resentment when witnessing injustice, particularly when someone else is being treated unfairly. Unlike simple anger, this term captures a specific emotional response rooted in a sense of moral justice—the feeling of “holding onto unfairness” within yourself. This article explores the deep cultural significance of 抱不平 in modern China, from its classical origins to its everyday usage in the workplace, social media, and interpersonal relationships. You'll learn not just the dictionary definition, but the unwritten social codes that govern when it is appropriate (or dangerous) to express this emotion, along with practical examples to help you master this essential Chinese expression.

Core Information

Pinyin: bào bù píng

Part of Speech: Verb (often used as verb phrase), can also function as noun phrase

HSK Level: HSK 5 (intermediate-advanced vocabulary)

Literal Translation: “to hold (feel) not balanced” or more naturally, “to harbor indignation about unfairness”

Concise Definition: To feel indignant or resentful about an injustice, especially one that has happened to someone else; to experience righteous anger at unfair treatment witnessed in social situations.

The “In a Nutshell” Concept

Imagine watching someone cut in line at a government office, or seeing a boss publicly humiliate a junior employee for a mistake they themselves made. In that moment, you feel a visceral emotional response—not directly about yourself, but about the unfairness you are witnessing. That uncomfortable, almost physical sensation of moral outrage bubbling up inside you? That is 抱不平.

The beauty and precision of this Chinese term lies in its imagery. The character 抱 (bào) means “to hold” or “to embrace,” suggesting that you are literally carrying this feeling inside you, pressing it against your chest like something precious or burdensome. The phrase 不平 (bù píng) means “uneven” or “not level”—a metaphor borrowed from physical imbalance that perfectly captures the sense of moral crookedness, of things being fundamentally wrong in the universe. When you 抱不平, you are holding onto that sense of cosmic imbalance, unable to let it go until justice is somehow restored.

This is not merely intellectual recognition that something is unfair. It is an emotional, visceral response that creates genuine internal discomfort. The Chinese understand that witnessing injustice creates a kind of sympathetic pain—you feel for the victim even though the injustice is not directed at you. 抱不平 captures this collective emotional experience perfectly.

Evolution and Etymology

The term 抱不平 has deep roots in Chinese literary and philosophical tradition, though its exact modern form evolved over centuries.

The concept of 不平 (unevenness/imbalance) appears throughout classical Chinese philosophy as a description of social and cosmic disorder. In Confucian thought, harmony (和, hé) represents the ideal state of society, where relationships are balanced and each person receives their proper due. 不平 represents the violation of this harmony—when the natural order is disrupted and people are treated contrary to their proper station or merit.

The verb 抱 (to hold/embrace) as a metaphor for internal emotional states also has ancient precedents. Classical texts often describe holding grief (抱悲), holding worry (抱忧), or holding fear (抱惧) in one's heart. This metaphorical usage suggests that emotions are not merely experienced but actively carried, like a physical burden.

The earliest recorded combination of these elements appears in works from the Ming and Qing dynasties, where the phrase emerges in colloquial literature describing everyday emotional responses. By the time of 水浒传 (Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn, “Water Margin”), the expression was firmly established in the Chinese vernacular, often appearing in contexts where heroes intervene to help the downtrodden.

In modern usage, 抱不平 has expanded beyond its original literary contexts to become a common expression in everyday speech, digital communication, and even workplace discourse. The emotional core remains unchanged: the irreducible human experience of feeling angry when you witness someone being treated unfairly. However, the social contexts in which this emotion is appropriate, suppressed, or strategically deployed have become more nuanced in contemporary Chinese society.

The following table compares 抱不平 with related expressions to help you understand its unique position in the Chinese emotional vocabulary. Each term captures a different aspect of responding to injustice, and understanding these distinctions will help you choose the right word for the right situation.

Key Distinctions

The primary difference between 抱不平 and 打抱不平 lies in the crucial distinction between feeling and action. 抱不平 describes the internal emotional state—the righteous anger you carry inside when you see something unfair. 打抱不平, by contrast, literally means “to strike at” or “to beat away” injustice, implying active intervention to right the wrong.

Think of it this way: you might 抱不平 at an injustice you witness on the news, feeling deeply upset but doing nothing. But if you actually confronted the perpetrator or helped the victim, you would be 打抱不平. The 打 in 打抱不平 transforms the passive emotional response into active intervention.

鸣不平 is closer in emotional content to 抱不平 but emphasizes the expression of that feeling rather than the internal experience itself. If 抱不平 is the fire burning inside you, 鸣不平 is the smoke that escapes—you are making your grievance known, but not necessarily taking substantial action.

仗义执言 carries a more formal, almost heroic connotation. It suggests speaking truth to power, often at some personal risk. The term 仗义 (zhàng yì) invokes ideas of侠义 (xiá yì, chivalry) and righteous friendship, while 执言 (zhí yán) means to hold fast to one's words. This is the vocabulary of moral heroes and principled whistleblowers.

Where It Works (and Where It Fails)

Understanding when and where 抱不平 is socially appropriate in modern China requires navigating a complex web of cultural expectations, power dynamics, and strategic considerations. This is not merely vocabulary—it is social survival.

The Workplace

In professional settings, 抱不平 occupies a delicate space. The expression is most commonly used to describe feeling indignant about injustices witnessed between colleagues, particularly when one party has significantly less power than the other.

Appropriate contexts:

Expressing 抱不平 about mistreatment of junior staff, interns, or cleaning personnel generates social approval in most Chinese workplaces. Demonstrating empathy for the vulnerable is valued and reflects well on your character. You might say:

看到新来的实习生被主管随意使唤，我抱不平。(Kàn dào xīn lái de shíxíshēng bèi zhǔguǎn suíyì shǐhuan, wǒ bào bù píng.) “Seeing the new intern being arbitrarily bossed around by the supervisor, I felt indignant.”

However, you must be careful about the target of your 抱不平. Expressing indignation about treatment of senior executives, clients, or powerful colleagues often backfires. The unwritten rule is: you can feel sorry for those with less power than you, but questioning the treatment of those above you risks being seen as presumptuous or politically naive.

Danger zones:

In hierarchical workplaces, particularly in traditional industries or family businesses, openly expressing 抱不平 about management decisions can be career-limiting. Even if you are privately 抱不平, revealing this emotion publicly may mark you as a troublemaker who does not understand their place.

Social Media and Slang

Chinese netizens (网民, wǎngmín) have embraced 抱不平 as a favorite expression for commenting on social media posts about injustice. The term appears frequently in comment sections, forum posts, and WeChat moments when users discuss news stories about corruption, abuse of power, or unfair treatment.

Gen-Z Chinese users often employ 抱不平 in a slightly ironic or self-aware way, acknowledging the futility of their indignation while still expressing it. Phrases like “我真的太抱不平了” (wǒ zhēn de tài bào bù píng le, “I'm really too indignant about this”) followed by a laughing emoji or a comment about how nothing will change anyway have become common patterns.

The social media usage of 抱不平 often carries an implicit critique of systemic problems. When users express 抱不平 about a viral news story, they are signaling not just sympathy for the victim but also frustration with broader social conditions that allow such injustice to occur. This collective 抱不平 can sometimes coalesce into social movements or sustained public pressure, though such outcomes remain exceptional.

The Hidden Codes

There are several unwritten rules that govern the appropriate expression of 抱不平 in Chinese society:

Rule 1: Know your audience. Expressing 抱不平 to sympathetic friends and family is expected and socially bonding. Expressing it to neutral parties or potential rivals requires careful calibration. If you抱怨 (bàoyuàn, complain) about injustice to someone who might benefit from that injustice or who has connections to its perpetrators, you risk being seen as foolish or strategically naive.

Rule 2: Consider the power distance. In Chinese social psychology, the degree of social hierarchy between the victim, the perpetrator, and yourself matters enormously. 抱不平 about mistreatment of rural migrant workers by city officials generates far more social approval than 抱不平 about wealthy businesspeople experiencing regulatory scrutiny.

Rule 3: Timing matters. Fresh injustice generates more sympathy than stale injustice. If everyone has already moved on to the next news story, your expressed 抱不平 may be seen as out of touch rather than principled.

Rule 4: Action vs. inaction. There is an increasing awareness in modern China that merely feeling 抱不平 is not enough. The phrase “键盘侠” (jiànpán xiá, “keyboard hero”)—someone who expresses strong opinions online but does nothing in real life—carries a mildly pejorative connotation. If you want to be taken seriously, your 抱不平 should ideally be accompanied by some form of action, however small.

Rule 5: Distinguish between public and private contexts. On social media, you can express 抱不平 with relative freedom (within the bounds of what the censor will allow). In face-to-face interactions, especially with strangers or authority figures, expressing this emotion requires more caution. The Chinese concept of “面子” (miànzi, face) means that publicly shaming someone or calling out injustice in a group setting can create uncomfortable dynamics that others will want to avoid.

The following examples illustrate various contexts in which 抱不平 might be used. Each example includes the target term in bold within the Chinese sentence, followed by pinyin, English translation, and deep analysis.

Example 1: Witnessing Workplace Injustice

看到同事被无端指责，我忍不住抱不平。

Kàn dào tóngshì bèi wúduān zhǐzé, wǒ rěn bu zhù bào bù píng.

Seeing a colleague being blamed without reason, I couldn't help but feel indignant.

Deep Analysis: This is perhaps the most common modern usage of 抱不平. The speaker witnessed an injustice (unfounded blame) directed at a colleague and felt a spontaneous emotional response. The phrase 忍不住 (rěn bu zhù, “couldn't help”) emphasizes the involuntary nature of this emotion—the indignation welled up despite the speaker's attempt to remain neutral or stay out of it. In the workplace, such expressions of solidarity with colleagues can build social capital and demonstrate your character.

Example 2: Feeling Indignant on Behalf of Strangers

看到新闻里老人被欺负，我抱不平。

Kàn dào xīnwén lǐ lǎorén bèi qīfu, wǒ bào bù píng.

Seeing elderly people being bullied in the news, I felt indignant.

Deep Analysis: This example shows that 抱不平 can extend beyond your immediate social circle to include同情 (tóngqíng, empathy) for strangers. The victimization of elderly people (who occupy a respected position in Chinese culture) generates particularly strong reactions. This sentence could appear in a social media post, a conversation with friends, or even a blog comment. The implication is that the speaker's sense of justice extends to vulnerable members of society, reflecting positively on their character.

Example 3: Internal Conflict About Expressing Indignation

虽然我很抱不平，但还是选择了沉默。

Suīrán wǒ hěn bào bù píng, dàn háishi xuǎnzé le chénmò.

Although I felt very indignant, I still chose to remain silent.

Deep Analysis: This sentence reveals the tension between emotional response and strategic behavior in Chinese social contexts. The speaker acknowledges feeling strong indignation but consciously decides not to express it. This pattern is extremely common—Chinese social wisdom often advises restraint, especially when intervening might create more problems than it solves or put you in danger. The phrase 但还是 (dàn háishi, “but still”) signals the difficult choice the speaker faced.

Example 4: Collective Indignation

大家对这个不公平的规定都抱不平。

Dàjiā duì zhège bù gōngpíng de guīdìng dōu bào bù píng.

Everyone felt indignant about this unfair regulation.

Deep Analysis: This example shows 抱不平 being used to describe shared emotional responses within a group. When a policy or regulation affects an entire workplace or community, collective 抱不平 can create solidarity and sometimes lead to pressure for change. The use of 大家 (dàjiā, “everyone”) emphasizes the universal nature of the grievance and suggests that the injustice is so obvious that no reasonable person could remain indifferent.

Example 5: Indignation About Historical or Systemic Injustice

很多人对历史上的冤案依然抱不平。

Hěn duō rén duì lìshǐ shàng de yuān'àn yīrán bào bù píng.

Many people still feel indignant about historical injustices and wrongful convictions.

Deep Analysis: This usage extends 抱不平 beyond immediate, personal situations to encompass long-standing grievances about historical events. In Chinese public discourse, references to historical injustices (such as wrongful persecutions during the Cultural Revolution) remain sensitive topics. The phrase 依然 (yīrán, “still”) suggests that time has not diminished the sense of wrong, and the use of 很多人 (hěn duō rén, “many people”) indicates this is a shared, socially recognized sentiment.

Example 6: Sympathetic Indignation for Friends

听说你被那样对待，我真的替你抱不平。

Tīngshuō nǐ bèi nà yàng duìdài, wǒ zhēn de tì nǐ bào bù píng.

Hearing that you were treated that way, I really feel indignant on your behalf.

Deep Analysis: This is a classic example of 抱不平 being expressed to comfort a friend or ally. The phrase 替你 (tì nǐ, “on your behalf”) explicitly positions the speaker as a sympathetic witness who has taken the friend's side. In Chinese friendship dynamics, expressing 抱不平 when a friend has been wronged is an important bonding ritual that demonstrates loyalty and solidarity. The word 真的 (zhēn de, “really”) intensifies the emotion, suggesting the speaker is deeply moved.

Example 7: Mild, Contextual Indignation

他对这件事稍微有点抱不平。

Tā duì zhè jiàn shì shāowēi yǒudiǎn bào bù píng.

He was slightly indignant about this matter.

Deep Analysis: This example shows that 抱不平 can be modified by adverbs indicating intensity. 稍微 (shāowēi, “slightly”) and 有点 (yǒudiǎn, “somewhat”) temper the emotion, suggesting that while the person did feel wronged, their response was not overwhelming. This kind of hedged expression is common when discussing sensitive topics where full-throated indignation might be inappropriate or when the injustice was relatively minor.

Example 8: 抱不平 About Service Industry Treatment

在餐厅看到服务员被顾客辱骂，我真的抱不平。

Zài cāntīng kàn dào fúwùyuán bèi gùkè rǔmà, wǒ zhēn de bào bù píng.

Seeing service staff being verbally abused by customers at a restaurant, I really felt indignant.

Deep Analysis: This sentence expresses 抱不平 about a common phenomenon in Chinese service industry contexts. The power imbalance between customers and service workers creates situations where abuse can occur with impunity. Expressing 抱不平 in such contexts signals that you are not one of those who would mistreat service workers and that you recognize the humanity of those in service roles. This reflects emerging social awareness about workers' rights in modern China.

Example 9: 抱不平 in Legal Contexts

受害者家属对判决结果抱不平，认为量刑过轻。

Shòuhài zhě jiāshǔ duì pànjué jiéguǒ bào bù píng, rènwéi liàngxíng guò qīng.

The victim's family felt indignant about the verdict, believing the sentence was too light.

Deep Analysis: This example shows 抱不平 being used in formal legal contexts. When victims or their families feel that justice has not been served by the court system, they are described as 抱不平. This can be a precursor to appeals, public campaigns, or ongoing legal battles. The phrase 认为 (rènwéi, “believe”) provides justification for the indignation, while 量刑过轻 (liàngxíng guò qīng, “sentence too light”) specifies the nature of the perceived injustice.

Example 10: Describing Persistent Indignation

这么多年过去了，她依然对那件事抱不平。

Zhème duō nián guòqù le, tā yīrán duì nà jiàn shì bào bù píng.

So many years have passed, but she still feels indignant about that matter.

Deep Analysis: This example demonstrates the enduring quality of 抱不平 in certain contexts. The speaker indicates that despite the passage of time, the emotional response to the original injustice has not diminished. This kind of persistent indignation is often respected in Chinese culture as evidence of principled character—someone who cannot let go of a wrong is someone with strong moral convictions. The phrase 依然 (yīrán, “still”) emphasizes continuity of feeling.

Example 11: 抱不平 Expressed Through Media

这首歌写出了普通人对权贵的抱不平。

Zhège gē xiě chūle pǔtōng rén duì quánguì de bào bù píng.

This song expresses ordinary people's indignation against the powerful and wealthy.

Deep Analysis: This sentence describes artistic or literary expression of collective 抱不平. Throughout Chinese history, music, literature, and performance art have served as outlets for social grievances that could not be directly voiced. The phrase 普通人 (pǔtōng rén, “ordinary people”) versus 权贵 (quánguì, “the powerful and wealthy”) establishes a clear class dimension to the injustice. Such songs often become anthems for those who feel the system is rigged against them.

Example 12: Self-Reflective Indignation

有时候我也在想，我的抱不平到底有没有意义。

Yǒu shíhou wǒ yě zài xiǎng, wǒ de bào bù píng dàodǐ yǒu méiyǒu yìyì.

Sometimes I wonder whether my indignation really has any meaning.

Deep Analysis: This introspective sentence shows a modern, somewhat cynical perspective on 抱不平. The speaker questions whether simply feeling indignant (without being able to change anything) serves any purpose. This reflects a common psychological response to persistent social problems—the initial moral outrage can curdle into cynicism when change seems impossible. The use of 到底 (dàodǐ, “after all”) emphasizes the speaker's uncertainty and disillusionment.

Common Pitfalls

Foreign learners of Chinese often stumble when using 抱不平 because they misunderstand the emotional register, social context, or grammatical patterns of this expression. The following examples highlight the most frequent errors and how to correct them.

Mistake 1: Confusing 抱不平 with 打抱不平 (Action vs. Feeling)

Wrong: 我去打抱不平他们被欺负的事情。

Wǒ qù dǎ bào bù píng tāmen bèi qīfu de shìqíng.

Right: 我为他们被欺负的事情抱不平。

Wǒ wèi tāmen bèi qīfu de shìqíng bào bù píng.

I felt indignant about them being bullied.

Explanation: The primary error here is using 打抱不平 when no actual intervention is occurring. 打抱不平 specifically implies taking action to defend someone—you are “striking at” or actively opposing the injustice. If you merely feel upset about something without doing anything, you should use 抱不平 without the 打. The particle 为 (wèi, “for/on behalf of”) is the appropriate connector, indicating that your indignation is directed toward the situation rather than being something you physically “go do.”

Mistake 2: Using 抱不平 When You Are the Victim

Wrong: 老板不公平，我对他抱不平。

Lǎobǎn bù gōngpíng, wǒ duì tā bào bù píng.

My boss is unfair, I'm indignant toward him.

Right: 老板不公平，我感到很不平。

Lǎobǎn bù gōngpíng, wǒ gǎn dào hěn bùpíng.

My boss is unfair, I feel very indignant.

Explanation: This is a subtle but important distinction. 抱不平 strongly implies indignation on behalf of a third party—someone other than yourself who is being treated unfairly. When you are the direct victim of injustice, the appropriate expression is simply 不平 or 感到不平 (gǎn dào bùpíng, “feel indignant”). The 抱 (holding) in 抱不平 creates a sense of distance—you are “holding” this feeling about someone else's situation, not experiencing it directly. Using 抱不平 when you yourself are the victim sounds strange to native speakers and may even be interpreted as a strange affectation.

Mistake 3: Overusing 抱不平 in Formal Writing

Wrong: 关于这个抱不平的事件，我有以下几点看法。

Guānyú zhège bào bù píng de shìjiàn, wǒ yǒu yǐxià jǐ diǎn kànfǎ.

Regarding this indignant incident, I have the following views.

Right: 关于这件不公平的事件，我有以下几点看法。

Guānyú zhè jiàn bù gōngpíng de shìjiàn, wǒ yǒu yǐxià jǐ diǎn kànfǎ.

Regarding this unfair incident, I have the following views.

Explanation: 抱不平 is primarily a spoken and informal written expression—it describes an emotional state rather than an objective characteristic. When describing an incident itself in formal writing, you should use 不公平 (bù gōngpíng, “unfair”) or similar descriptors that objectively characterize the situation. Save 抱不平 for contexts where you are explicitly discussing someone's emotional response. Using it to describe the incident itself sounds emotionally overwrought for formal contexts.

Mistake 4: Forgetting the Social Context Dependency

Wrong: 我对经理的决定抱不平，然后直接去跟他理论。

Wǒ duì jīnglǐ de juédìng bào bù píng, ránhòu zhíjiē qù gēn tā lǐlùn.

I felt indignant about the manager's decision, then went directly to argue with him.

Right: 虽然我对经理的决定抱不平，但还是先找HR反映了情况。

Suīrán wǒ duì jīnglǐ de juédìng bào bù píng, dàn háishi xiān zhǎo HR fǎnyìngle qíngkuàng.

Although I felt indignant about the manager's decision, I still reported the situation to HR first.

Explanation: Expressing 抱不平 about decisions made by superiors, and then confronting them directly, is generally considered inappropriate in Chinese workplace culture. Even if you feel indignant, the proper channels (HR, a mediator, or indirect communication) are usually expected. The right-hand example shows a more culturally appropriate response: acknowledging your indignation but channeling it through proper institutional mechanisms. Chinese social harmony often requires managing emotions strategically rather than expressing them directly.

Mistake 5: Using 抱不平 for Mild Annoyance

Wrong: 餐厅排队太长了，我抱不平。

Cāntīng páiduì tài cháng le, wǒ bào bù píng.

The restaurant line was too long, I felt indignant.

Right: 餐厅排队太长了，我很不满。

Cāntīng páiduì tài cháng le, wǒ hěn bùmǎn.

The restaurant line was too long, I was very dissatisfied.

Explanation: 抱不平 implies moral outrage about genuine injustice—a serious violation of fairness or rights. Being annoyed by a long line at a restaurant is 不满 (bùmǎn, “dissatisfaction”) or 不耐烦 (bù nàifán, “impatient”), not 抱不平. Using 抱不平 for minor inconveniences sounds exaggerated and may be perceived as melodramatic. Reserve this powerful expression for situations that genuinely involve unfairness, mistreatment, or injustice.

Mistake 6: Misplacing the Object of 抱不平

Wrong: 我抱不平他的做法。

Wǒ bào bù píng tā de zuòfǎ.

Right: 我对他欺负弱者的做法抱不平。

Wǒ duì tā qīfu ruòzhě de zuòfǎ bào bù píng.

I felt indignant about his practice of bullying the weak.

Explanation: The direct object of 抱不平 is not the person committing the injustice but the act or treatment itself. The particle 对 (duì, “toward/at”) introduces what you are indignant about. The person committing the injustice is typically mentioned separately as the agent of the bad action. This structure emphasizes that your indignation is directed at the moral violation, not at the person as an individual.

The following related terms and concepts will help you build a comprehensive understanding of the semantic field surrounding 抱不平. Each link connects to another DokuWiki article in this encyclopedia.

打抱不平 (dǎ bào bù píng) - To take action to defend someone who has been wronged; to actively intervene against injustice. While 抱不平 describes the internal feeling, 打抱不平 implies outward action and intervention. The addition of 打 (dǎ, “strike/hit”) transforms passive emotion into active defense.

不平 (bù píng) - Literally “uneven/not level,” this term means injustice, unfairness, or grievance. It can also function as an adjective meaning “indignant” or “resentful.” 不平 is the conceptual foundation upon which 抱不平 is built—the imbalance or wrongness that triggers the emotional response.

鸣不平 (míng bù píng) - To voice or express complaints about unfair treatment. While 抱不平 focuses on internal emotional experience, 鸣不平 emphasizes the verbal or written expression of that grievance. The character 鸣 (míng) originally meant “to cry out” (as of birds or insects) and carries connotations of public proclamation.

仗义执言 (zhàng yì zhí yán) - To speak boldly in defense of justice or the righteous cause. This is a more formal, almost heroic expression than 抱不平. It emphasizes verbal courage and principled stands, often in formal contexts or when challenging authority. The term invokes the tradition of 侠义 (xiá yì, chivalry).

同情 (tóngqíng) - Sympathy or empathy, understanding and sharing the feelings of another. While 抱不平 is about moral outrage at injustice, 同情 is about emotional resonance with someone's suffering. These emotions often coexist, but they are not identical.

愤慨 (fènkǎi) - Indignation, righteous anger,愤慨 is a stronger and more intense emotional response than 抱不平. Where 抱不平 suggests held-in resentment, 愤慨 implies boiling anger that demands expression. 愤慨 often appears in formal or journalistic contexts.

鸣冤 (míng yuān) - To voice or appeal against a grievance, often implying that one has been wrongly accused or treated unjustly. While 鸣不平 focuses on general unfairness, 鸣冤 specifically suggests innocence and wrongful treatment that demands redress.

路见不平 (lù jiàn bù píng) - Literally “seeing injustice on the road,” this phrase comes from the common saying 路见不平，拔刀相助 (lù jiàn bù píng, bá dāo xiāng zhù, “seeing injustice on the road, drawing one's sword to help”). It sets up the ideal of heroic intervention against wrongs witnessed in daily life.

义愤填膺 (yì fèn tián yīng) - Righteous indignation filling one's chest. This four-character idiom (成语, chéngyǔ) describes intense moral anger that completely dominates one's emotional state. It is stronger than 抱不平 and emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the emotional response.