骚扰
Harassment is when someone acts in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, scared, or upset.
Explanation at your level:
Harassment is when someone is mean to you many times. If someone says bad things to you or touches you when you do not want them to, that is harassment. It is not nice and you should tell an adult.
Harassment is behavior that makes you feel bad or scared. It can be words or actions. If someone follows you or sends you messages you don't want, this is harassment. It is important to say 'stop' and ask for help.
Harassment is the act of bothering someone in a way that is persistent and unwelcome. It creates a negative environment. In many places, like schools or offices, there are rules against harassment to keep everyone safe and comfortable.
Harassment involves repeated, intrusive behavior that violates a person's boundaries. It is a serious issue that often has legal consequences. When we talk about workplace or sexual harassment, we are discussing systemic problems that require clear policies and reporting procedures.
Harassment transcends simple annoyance; it is a deliberate, often power-based strategy to intimidate, demean, or coerce an individual. It manifests in various forms, including cyberbullying, stalking, and institutional discrimination. Recognizing harassment requires an understanding of both the perpetrator's intent and the victim's subjective experience of hostility.
The term 'harassment' carries significant legal and sociological weight, denoting a failure of social or professional decorum that infringes upon individual autonomy. Etymologically rooted in the concept of exhaustion, modern usage highlights the psychological toll of persistent encroachment. Addressing harassment necessitates not only individual resilience but also robust institutional frameworks that prioritize accountability, transparency, and the restoration of a safe, equitable environment for all participants.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Harassment is persistent, unwanted, and intrusive behavior.
- It is an uncountable noun often used in legal and professional settings.
- It differs from simple annoyance due to its severity and impact.
- Reporting harassment is a key step in ensuring safety.
When we talk about harassment, we are describing a situation where someone is being bothered, annoyed, or intimidated in a way that is persistent and unwelcome. It isn't just a one-time disagreement; it is usually a pattern of behavior that makes the other person feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Think of it as someone crossing your personal boundaries repeatedly. Whether it happens at school, in the workplace, or online, the key element here is that the actions are unwanted. It is a serious term often used in legal and professional settings to describe behavior that violates someone's right to peace and safety.
The word harassment comes from the French verb harasser, which means 'to exhaust' or 'to tire out.' In the 17th century, it entered English as 'harass,' describing the act of wearing someone down through repeated attacks or annoyance.
Historically, the word was often used in a military context, referring to 'harassing' an enemy by launching small, frequent attacks to keep them tired and off-balance. Over time, the meaning shifted from physical exhaustion to the psychological and social pressure we recognize today. It is fascinating how a word that once described battlefield tactics now serves as a crucial term for protecting personal dignity in modern society.
You will most commonly hear harassment used in professional or legal contexts. It is a 'heavy' word, so it isn't usually used for light teasing between friends. When someone says they are being harassed, it is a serious claim that often requires intervention.
Common collocations include sexual harassment, workplace harassment, and verbal harassment. You might hear phrases like 'zero-tolerance policy for harassment' or 'reporting an incident of harassment.' Because of its weight, it is best to use this word only when describing behavior that is truly persistent, intrusive, or threatening.
While 'harassment' is a formal noun, it relates to several expressions about being bothered:
- To hound someone: To pursue or pester someone relentlessly.
- To give someone a hard time: A casual way to say someone is being difficult or annoying.
- To get under someone's skin: When someone's behavior consistently irritates or bothers you.
- To push someone around: Using power or intimidation to bully someone.
- To be on someone's case: Constantly criticizing or bothering someone about their actions.
Harassment is an uncountable noun. You don't usually say 'a harassment' or 'harassments.' Instead, you refer to 'instances of harassment' or 'cases of harassment.'
In terms of pronunciation, there are two common ways to say it. In the US, it is often pronounced hə-RASS-ment, while in the UK, you might hear HARR-uhs-ment. Rhyming words include embarrassment, assessment, and reassessment. Remember that the stress usually falls on the second syllable in American English, making it sound quite rhythmic!
Fun Fact
The word originally referred to military tactics of wearing down an enemy.
Pronunciation Guide
Emphasis on the first syllable.
Emphasis on the second syllable.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the middle 's' sounds
- Adding an extra syllable
- Stress on the wrong part of the word
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common in news and legal documents.
Requires careful usage.
Used in serious discussions.
Common in professional media.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Uncountable Nouns
Harassment is uncountable.
Noun Formation
Harass + ment = Harassment.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Harassment is a serious issue.
Examples by Level
He is mean to me.
He = he, mean = bad, to me = to me.
Simple present tense.
Stop that, please.
Stop = end, please = polite word.
Imperative sentence.
I do not like this.
I = me, do not like = dislike.
Negative statement.
She is not nice.
She = her, not nice = mean.
Subject-verb agreement.
Tell the teacher.
Tell = speak to, teacher = school leader.
Imperative.
It is bad behavior.
It = the action, bad = wrong.
Noun phrase.
Do not follow me.
Follow = walk behind, me = I.
Negative imperative.
I feel scared.
Feel = emotion, scared = afraid.
Linking verb.
The boss was fired for workplace harassment.
She reported the harassment to the police.
Cyber harassment is a growing problem online.
He felt uncomfortable due to the constant harassment.
The school has a strict policy against harassment.
They stopped the harassment immediately.
Harassment makes people feel very unhappy.
Everyone deserves to work without harassment.
The company launched a campaign to end sexual harassment.
She faced years of verbal harassment from her neighbor.
The victim decided to take legal action against the harassment.
Harassment in the workplace is strictly prohibited.
He was warned about his behavior regarding harassment.
The manager failed to address the complaints of harassment.
Online harassment can have serious mental health consequences.
They are attending a workshop on preventing harassment.
The pervasive culture of harassment led to several resignations.
She documented every incident of harassment to use as evidence.
The HR department is investigating claims of workplace harassment.
He was accused of systematic harassment of his colleagues.
The judge ruled that the behavior constituted criminal harassment.
Victims of harassment often suffer in silence for a long time.
The organization implemented new protocols to combat harassment.
It is vital to foster an environment free from harassment.
The insidious nature of workplace harassment often goes unnoticed by management.
She sought legal counsel to address the persistent harassment she endured.
The report highlights the intersectionality of harassment in diverse environments.
Legislation has been updated to cover digital forms of harassment.
The psychological impact of harassment can be profound and long-lasting.
He was dismissed for creating a hostile environment through harassment.
The policy mandates immediate reporting of any suspected harassment.
Societal norms are shifting to demand zero tolerance for harassment.
The legal discourse surrounding harassment has evolved to encompass nuanced power dynamics.
Institutional complicity often exacerbates the trauma experienced by victims of harassment.
The court scrutinized the evidence to determine if the conduct met the threshold for harassment.
Addressing systemic harassment requires a fundamental shift in organizational culture.
The pervasive, low-level harassment created an atmosphere of palpable dread.
Her testimony shed light on the clandestine nature of the harassment.
The academic community is grappling with the complexities of harassment in research settings.
Such egregious acts of harassment warrant the most severe disciplinary measures.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Give someone a hard time"
To make things difficult or annoying for someone.
My boss is giving me a hard time about the deadline.
casual"Get under someone's skin"
To annoy someone intensely.
His constant complaining is really getting under my skin.
casual"Walk on eggshells"
To be extremely careful not to offend or upset someone.
I feel like I'm walking on eggshells around him.
neutral"Put through the wringer"
To subject someone to a difficult or unpleasant experience.
The interview process really put me through the wringer.
casual"Pick on someone"
To target someone for unfair criticism or bullying.
Why do you always pick on the new student?
neutralEasily Confused
Similar sound
Embarrassment is a feeling of shame; harassment is an external act.
He felt embarrassment after his mistake.
Both involve being bothered
Annoyance is minor; harassment is severe.
His clicking pen was an annoyance.
Similar context
Bullying is often used for children/teens; harassment for adults/work.
The bullying on the playground was addressed.
Both involve unwanted attention
Stalking is a specific, severe form of harassment.
He was arrested for stalking.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + a victim of + harassment
She is a victim of harassment.
Company + has + a policy against + harassment
The company has a policy against harassment.
Verb + report + of + harassment
They filed a report of harassment.
Adjective + harassment
It was blatant sexual harassment.
Noun + constitutes + harassment
Such conduct constitutes harassment.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Harassment is uncountable, so you don't use 'a'.
Harassment is an external action; embarrassment is an internal feeling.
Harassment implies a serious, often illegal, pattern of behavior.
It has one 'r' at the start and two 's's.
Harassment is the noun; harass is the verb.
Tips
The 'Double S' Rule
Remember it has two 's's at the end.
Professional Setting
Use it only when you mean serious, persistent behavior.
Zero Tolerance
Many US companies use the phrase 'zero tolerance' with this word.
Uncountable Noun
Never add an 's' to make it plural.
US vs UK
Note the stress shift between American and British English.
Don't use for light teasing
Avoid using it for simple jokes.
Military Roots
It started as a military term!
Contextual Learning
Read news articles about workplace policy to see it in action.
Verb vs Noun
Harass (verb) vs Harassment (noun).
Legal Weight
Understand that this word carries legal implications.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
H-A-R-A-S-S: He Always Really Acts So Stupidly (to annoy me).
Visual Association
A person being followed by a persistent, annoying cloud.
Word Web
Challenge
Write a sentence using 'harassment' in a professional context.
Word Origin
French
Original meaning: To exhaust or tire out
Cultural Context
Highly sensitive; always use with professional caution.
It is a very serious term in US/UK corporate and academic life.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- File a complaint
- Workplace harassment
- HR policy
At school
- Anti-bullying policy
- Report to teacher
- Safe environment
Online
- Cyber harassment
- Block the user
- Report account
Legal
- Take legal action
- Evidence of harassment
- Court order
Conversation Starters
"What do you think companies should do to prevent harassment?"
"How has the definition of harassment changed over time?"
"Why is it important to have policies against harassment?"
"What should someone do if they witness harassment?"
"How does online harassment differ from offline harassment?"
Journal Prompts
Write about the importance of setting personal boundaries.
Describe a time you saw someone stand up for another person.
Why do you think some people harass others?
How can we create safer environments in our communities?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, in many jurisdictions, it can be a criminal offense.
No, it is an uncountable noun.
Unwelcome sexual advances or conduct.
No, teasing is usually friendly; harassment is unwelcome and persistent.
Contact HR, a supervisor, or the authorities.
No, it can be verbal or digital.
Yes, 'to harass' is the verb form.
Respect or support.
Test Yourself
The boss was fired for ___.
Harassment is the correct noun for bad behavior.
Which is a form of harassment?
Unwanted comments are a form of harassment.
Harassment is usually a one-time event.
Harassment is typically a pattern of behavior.
Word
Meaning
Definitions match.
Standard sentence structure.
What is a synonym for harassment?
Intimidation is a synonym.
Harassment is a countable noun.
It is uncountable.
The company has a ___ policy against harassment.
Zero-tolerance is the standard collocation.
What is the etymological root of harass?
From the French 'harasser'.
Harassment originally meant to exhaust.
Correct, it meant to tire out an enemy.
Score: /10
Summary
Harassment is a serious, unwanted pattern of behavior that violates personal boundaries and dignity.
- Harassment is persistent, unwanted, and intrusive behavior.
- It is an uncountable noun often used in legal and professional settings.
- It differs from simple annoyance due to its severity and impact.
- Reporting harassment is a key step in ensuring safety.
The 'Double S' Rule
Remember it has two 's's at the end.
Professional Setting
Use it only when you mean serious, persistent behavior.
Zero Tolerance
Many US companies use the phrase 'zero tolerance' with this word.
Uncountable Noun
Never add an 's' to make it plural.
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恪守
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反常
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