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B2 verb #8,800 most common 7 min read

掠夺

lue duo Top 8,800

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 掠夺 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 掠夺 in your Level:

At the A1 level, 掠夺 (lüèduó) is a very difficult word. You don't need to use it yet! It means 'to take things by force.' Think of a bad person taking toys from a child, but on a much bigger scale. For now, just remember that the first part 'lüè' and the second part 'duó' both mean 'to take.' If you see these characters, it probably means something is being taken in a mean or violent way. You should focus on simpler words like 拿 (ná - to take) or 给 (gěi - to give) first. Imagine a pirate taking treasure—that is a simple way to think about this word.

For A2 learners, 掠夺 is still quite advanced. You might see it in a simple story about history or nature. It means 'to plunder' or 'to rob' on a large scale. While 拿 (ná) is just 'to take,' 掠夺 is 'to take by force.' You can remember it by thinking of historical movies where soldiers take things from a village. It's a formal word, so you won't use it with your friends. If you want to say someone took your phone, don't use this word! Use 抢 (qiǎng) instead. 掠夺 is for big things like resources or land.

At the B1 level, you should start recognizing 掠夺 in news articles or history lessons. It is a verb that describes taking property or resources using force, often during a war. You might hear about '掠夺自然资源' (plundering natural resources). This is a common topic in environmental discussions. It's important to notice that this word has a very negative tone. It implies that the person taking the resources is being unfair and aggressive. You can use it to talk about how some companies treat the environment or how countries acted in the past. It shows you have a more sophisticated vocabulary than just using 'take' or 'rob.'

As a B2 learner, you are expected to use 掠夺 correctly in formal writing and discussions. You should understand its nuances in different fields. In economics, it appears in '掠夺性定价' (predatory pricing). In ecology, it describes '掠夺式开发' (exploitative development). You should be able to distinguish it from 抢劫 (qiǎngjié), which is a common crime, and 剥削 (bōxuē), which is social exploitation. When you use 掠夺, you are emphasizing the forceful and often large-scale nature of the theft. It’s a key word for discussing colonialism, environmental ethics, and aggressive business strategies.

At the C1 level, you should be comfortable using 掠夺 metaphorically and in complex grammatical structures. You might talk about the '掠夺式' (predatory) nature of certain algorithms that 'plunder' user attention or data. You should understand its historical weight in Chinese culture, specifically regarding the looting of cultural relics. You can use it to critique social structures, such as how 'urbanization plunders rural resources.' At this level, you should also be familiar with related idioms and more formal synonyms like 攫取 (juéqǔ) or 肆意劫掠 (sìyì jiéliüè). Your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's power to evoke moral outrage.

For C2 speakers, 掠夺 is a versatile tool for precise academic and political critique. You should analyze the '掠夺性' (predatory) logic of global capital or the '掠夺式' (plundering) behavior of invasive species in fragile ecosystems. You can use it in high-level literature to describe the 'plundering of the soul' or the 'stripping of dignity.' You should be able to navigate the subtle differences between 掠夺, 蹂躏 (róulìn - to trample/devastate), and 鲸吞 (jīngtūn - to swallow like a whale/annex). Your command of the word should include its use in historical documents, legal statutes, and philosophical treatises on property and power.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

掠夺 in 30 Seconds

掠夺 (lüèduó) is a formal verb meaning 'to plunder' or 'to seize by force,' typically used in war, history, and environmental contexts.
It carries a strong negative connotation, implying systemic injustice, violence, and the total removal of resources from a victim.
Commonly used in phrases like '掠夺资源' (plunder resources) and '掠夺性定价' (predatory pricing), it spans business, biology, and politics.
It is distinguished from simple theft (偷) or robbery (抢) by its scale, formality, and often organized or historical nature.

The Chinese term 掠夺 (lüèduó) is a powerful and somber verb that describes the act of seizing property, resources, or rights through force, violence, or systemic exploitation. At its core, the word combines two characters: 掠 (to plunder or pillage) and 夺 (to take by force). Together, they form a concept that goes far beyond simple theft; it implies a scale of aggression often associated with warfare, colonial history, or predatory economic practices. In modern discourse, you will encounter this word when discussing the extraction of natural resources from developing nations, the historical looting of cultural artifacts, or the aggressive behavior of apex predators in an ecosystem.

Historical Context: In historical narratives, 掠夺 is used to describe the actions of invading armies. For example, when a city was conquered in ancient times, the victors might engage in widespread 掠夺, taking gold, livestock, and even people. This usage highlights the lack of legal or moral restraint during the act.
Economic and Ecological Usage: In contemporary settings, the word has evolved to describe 'predatory' behaviors. Economists might speak of 掠夺性定价 (predatory pricing), where a large company slashes prices to drive out competitors. Ecologically, it describes a 'predatory' relationship where one organism thrives by stripping resources from others or the environment, such as 掠夺式开发 (predatory/exploitative development of resources).

战争结束后，侵略者对该地区的资源进行了疯狂的掠夺。
(After the war ended, the invaders engaged in a frenzied plundering of the region's resources.)

When using 掠夺, the speaker usually conveys a strong sense of injustice or moral condemnation. It is rarely used for trivial matters. You wouldn't use it if someone took your pen; you would use it if a corporation illegally logged a protected forest or if a regime stripped its citizens of their life savings. It carries a weight of systemic or violent loss.

这种掠夺式的发展模式虽然短期内能带来财富，但对环境的破坏是不可逆的。
(This predatory development model may bring wealth in the short term, but the damage to the environment is irreversible.)

Comparison with 抢劫 (Qiǎngjié): While 抢劫 refers to 'robbery' (usually a specific criminal act by an individual), 掠夺 is broader and more formal. 掠夺 often implies a large-scale, organized, or continuous process of taking, whereas 抢劫 is a discrete incident of theft with violence.

In summary, 掠夺 is your go-to word for describing the forceful acquisition of assets in contexts of war, colonization, environmental exploitation, or predatory economics. It is a high-level word that appears frequently in news reports, history books, and scientific journals discussing ecology.

Mastering 掠夺 requires understanding its grammatical flexibility. It can function as a verb, a noun, or an adjective (usually in the form of '掠夺性的'). Because it is a formal word, it is often paired with abstract nouns like '资源' (resources), '财富' (wealth), or '权利' (rights).

1. 殖民者无情地掠夺了非洲的自然资源。
(The colonizers ruthlessly plundered Africa's natural resources.)

In this sentence, 掠夺 acts as a transitive verb. Notice the use of the adverb '无情地' (ruthlessly), which frequently accompanies this word to emphasize the lack of compassion.

As a Noun: When used as a noun, it often follows a possessive or descriptive phrase. For example: '大规模的掠夺' (large-scale plundering). Example: 对土地的掠夺导致了当地农民的贫困 (The seizure/plundering of land led to the poverty of local farmers).

2. 这种捕食者在生态系统中扮演着掠夺者的角色。
(This predator plays the role of a plunderer/predator in the ecosystem.)

In biological contexts, adding '者' (zhě) creates the noun '掠夺者' (predator/plunderer). This is used to describe animals or organisms that aggressively consume others, though '捕食者' (bǔshízhě) is more common for simple hunting.

3. 法律严禁任何形式的非法掠夺他人财产的行为。
(The law strictly prohibits any form of illegal seizure of others' property.)

Finally, in legal and political contexts, 掠夺 is often preceded by '非法' (illegal) or '公开' (open/blatant). It describes a violation of rights that is systematic rather than just a single petty crime.

You are most likely to encounter 掠夺 in formal media, educational materials, and serious literature. It is not a word you would typically use in a casual conversation about losing your keys or someone taking your seat on a bus. Instead, look for it in the following domains:

News and Documentaries: When watching news reports about international conflicts, you'll hear reporters describe armies 掠夺 local villages. In environmental documentaries, the narrator might decry the 掠夺式开采 (predatory mining) of the rainforest, where minerals are extracted with no regard for the local community or future sustainability.
History Classrooms: In China, history textbooks use this word extensively when discussing the 'Century of Humiliation' or the actions of imperial powers. Phrases like 掠夺文物 (plundering cultural relics) are common when discussing items taken from the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan).

专家警告说，过度捕捞实际上是对海洋资源的掠夺。
(Experts warn that overfishing is effectively a plundering of ocean resources.)

In academic papers concerning biology or sociology, 掠夺 is used to describe power imbalances. For instance, a sociologist might analyze how urban centers 掠夺 the talent and labor of rural areas without providing adequate compensation—a metaphorical use of the term.

这部纪录片揭露了跨国公司如何掠夺贫困国家的淡水资源。
(This documentary exposes how multinational corporations plunder the freshwater resources of poor countries.)

In literature, particularly historical fiction or epic fantasy, authors use 掠夺 to set a grim tone. It evokes images of smoke, fire, and the forced removal of treasures. If you see this word, expect the context to be serious, impactful, and often tragic.

Because 掠夺 has a very specific 'flavor,' learners often make mistakes by using it in situations that are too small-scale or by confusing it with similar-sounding words.

Mistake 1: Using it for Petty Theft: Learners often say: 他掠夺了我的钱包 (He plundered my wallet). This sounds extremely dramatic, like the thief used an army to take the wallet. Instead, use 抢走了 (snatched/robbed) or 偷走了 (stole).
Mistake 2: Confusing with 侵略 (Qīnlüè): 侵略 means 'to invade' (a country). 掠夺 means 'to plunder' (the resources). You 侵略 a territory to 掠夺 its gold. Using them interchangeably is a common error. You cannot 'plunder' a country's border, but you can 'invade' it.

错误用法 (Wrong): 我掠夺了他的作业。
(I 'plundered' his homework - too formal/aggressive.)

正确用法 (Correct): 我拿走了他的作业。
(I took his homework.)

Another mistake involves the tone. 掠夺 is almost always negative. If you use it to describe a 'successful business acquisition' in a positive light, you will sound like you are accusing the buyer of a crime. For a neutral or positive acquisition, use 收购 (shōugòu) or 获取 (huòqǔ).

即使在商业竞争中，也要避免掠夺性的手段。
(Even in business competition, one should avoid predatory methods.)

Finally, remember that 掠夺 usually implies that the victim is left with nothing. It is a 'zero-sum' or 'negative-sum' action. Using it to describe a fair trade where you just felt you paid too much is incorrect.

To truly understand 掠夺, we must compare it to its synonyms. Each has a slightly different shade of meaning, register, and context.

抢劫 (Qiǎngjié) vs. 掠夺: 抢劫 is a legal term for robbery. It usually involves a thief and a victim. 掠夺 is grander and often systemic. You 抢劫 a bank; a colonial power 掠夺 a nation's gold mines.
剥削 (Bōxuē) vs. 掠夺: 剥削 means 'exploitation' (often of labor). It is usually a slow, ongoing process (like low wages). 掠夺 is more violent and sudden (like taking all the resources at once). You 剥削 workers' labor; you 掠夺 their property.
搜刮 (Sōuguā) vs. 掠夺: 搜刮 implies 'extorting' or 'scraping together' every last bit of wealth, often used for corrupt officials who tax people heavily. 掠夺 is more about the force used, while 搜刮 is about the thoroughness of the greed.

贪官们肆意搜刮民脂民膏，其本质也是一种掠夺。
(Corrupt officials wantonly extort the people's wealth, which in essence is also a form of plundering.)

Other alternatives include 霸占 (bàzhàn - to forcibly occupy/seize) and 侵吞 (qīntūn - to embezzle or swallow up). 霸占 focuses on the 'occupation' part, like taking over someone's house. 侵吞 focuses on the 'hiding' or 'absorbing' part, like a company's funds being swallowed by a corrupt manager. 掠夺 remains the most violent and encompassing of these terms.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

Both characters in '掠夺' use the 'hand' radical, visually representing the physical act of grasping or seizing something by force.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ljwɛ̂.twɔ̌/

US /ljwɛ̂.twɔ̌/

Second syllable (夺) often carries the emphasis in sentence flow.

Rhymes With

略 (lüè) 虐 (nüè) 夺 (duó) 活 (huó) 国 (guó) 硕 (shuò) 卓 (zhuó) 驳 (bó)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'lüè' as 'luè' (missing the umlaut/ü sound).
Confusing 'duó' (2nd tone) with 'duò' (4th tone).
Swapping the tones: lüéduò instead of lüèduó.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 4/5

Common in news and history books, but requires knowledge of formal radicals.

Writing 5/5

The characters are complex to write by hand (many strokes).

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward if you know the 'ü' sound.

Listening 4/5

Can be confused with other 'luè' or 'duó' sounds in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

拿给抢夺资源

Learn Next

侵略剥削霸占侵吞垄断

Advanced

攫取蹂躏鲸吞蚕食劫掠

Grammar to Know

Resultative Complements

掠夺一空 (Plundered until empty).

Adverbial markers (地)

疯狂地掠夺 (Plunder frantically).

Passive voice (被)

资源被掠夺了 (Resources were plundered).

Attributive phrases (的)

掠夺性的行为 (Predatory behavior).

Verb-Object structure

掠夺财富 (Plunder wealth).

Examples by Level

坏人掠夺了财宝。

Bad people plundered the treasure.

Subject + Verb + Object.

他们掠夺了那个小村庄。

They plundered that small village.

Simple transitive verb usage.

不要掠夺别人的东西。

Don't plunder other people's things.

Negative imperative.

森林被掠夺了。

The forest was plundered.

Passive voice with 被 (bèi).

他在书里读到了掠夺。

He read about plundering in a book.

Noun usage after a preposition.

掠夺是不对的。

Plundering is wrong.

Gerund-like noun usage as subject.

历史上有许多掠夺。

There were many plunderings in history.

Existential sentence.

小猫掠夺了小狗的食物。

The kitten plundered the puppy's food (metaphorical/cute).

Personification/metaphor.

古时候，士兵们掠夺金子。

In ancient times, soldiers plundered gold.

Time phrase + Subject + Verb + Object.

那场战争带来了很多掠夺。

That war brought a lot of plundering.

掠夺 as a noun object.

我们要保护资源，不被掠夺。

We must protect resources from being plundered.

Passive construction.

掠夺者拿走了所有的粮食。

The plunderers took all the grain.

Noun + 者 (zhě) to mean 'person who does'.

他的土地被强行掠夺了。

His land was forcibly plundered/seized.

Adverbial modifier 强行 (qiángxíng).

掠夺自然环境是很危险的。

Plundering the natural environment is very dangerous.

Verb phrase as subject.

电影里有掠夺宝藏的情节。

There is a plot about plundering treasure in the movie.

Attributive phrase before a noun.

这些文物是被掠夺到国外的。

These cultural relics were plundered and taken abroad.

是...的 construction for emphasis.

殖民主义者掠夺了当地居民的财富。

Colonialists plundered the wealth of the local residents.

Historical context usage.

掠夺式的开发对森林造成了巨大破坏。

Predatory development has caused huge damage to the forest.

掠夺式 (lüèduó shì) as an adjective.

他们掠夺了该国的石油资源。

They plundered the country's oil resources.

Collocation with natural resources.

法律应当严惩掠夺他人财产的行为。

The law should severely punish the act of plundering others' property.

Formal legal context.

这种动物通过掠夺其他鸟类的巢穴生存。

This animal survives by plundering the nests of other birds.

Biological context.

历史不应忘记那些被掠夺的岁月。

History should not forget those plundered years (metaphorical).

Metaphorical usage.

海盗在海上掠夺商船。

Pirates plunder merchant ships at sea.

Classical usage.

我们必须制止这种掠夺行为。

We must stop this plundering behavior.

Noun phrase.

大公司采取掠夺性定价来击败竞争对手。

Big companies use predatory pricing to defeat competitors.

Business term: 掠夺性定价.

由于连年战争，该地区的资源已被掠夺殆尽。

Due to years of war, the region's resources have been plundered to exhaustion.

Resultative complement 殆尽 (dàijìn).

许多珍贵的文物在动乱中被掠夺并流失海外。

Many precious cultural relics were plundered during the unrest and lost overseas.

Passive voice with multiple verbs.

掠夺式的捕捞导致了鱼类种群的急剧减少。

Predatory fishing has led to a sharp decrease in fish populations.

Environmental context.

这种掠夺行为违背了国际法。

This act of plundering violates international law.

Formal verb 违背 (wéibèi).

侵略者对城市进行了疯狂的掠夺和屠杀。

The invaders carried out frantic plundering and massacres in the city.

Noun usage as object of 'carry out' (进行).

他认为这种税收制度是对民众的变相掠夺。

He believes this tax system is a disguised plundering of the people.

Abstract metaphorical usage.

掠夺者不仅抢走了财物，还摧毁了希望。

The plunderers not only snatched the belongings but also destroyed hope.

Not only... but also (不仅...还).

这种算法被指责为对用户注意力的掠夺。

This algorithm is accused of plundering user attention.

Modern digital context.

在那个黑暗的年代，公理缺失，掠夺成风。

In those dark years, justice was absent and plundering became common practice.

Idiomatic four-character structure (掠夺成风).

掠夺性贷款让无数家庭陷入了债务危机。

Predatory lending has plunged countless families into debt crises.

Financial term: 掠夺性贷款.

这篇论文深刻剖析了殖民掠夺的历史根源。

This paper deeply analyzes the historical roots of colonial plundering.

Academic usage.

他们肆无忌惮地掠夺着这片土地上的最后一点生机。

They are unscrupulously plundering the last bit of vitality from this land.

Adverb 肆无忌惮 (sìwú jìdàn).

文化的掠夺往往比物质的掠夺更具破坏性。

Cultural plundering is often more destructive than material plundering.

Comparative structure.

某些跨国资本的运作本质上是对弱势经济体的掠夺。

The operation of certain multinational capital is essentially a plundering of vulnerable economies.

Abstract socioeconomic analysis.

掠夺者最终也将被历史所唾弃。

The plunderers will eventually be spurned by history.

Passive voice with 所 (suǒ).

这种掠夺式的发展逻辑正将人类推向生态崩溃的边缘。

This logic of predatory development is pushing humanity to the brink of ecological collapse.

Complex philosophical/existential sentence.

史书上关于那次浩劫的记载无不充斥着掠夺与哀鸿。

The historical records of that catastrophe are all filled with plundering and the cries of the hungry.

Literary style (哀鸿 - āihóng).

其所谓的‘援助’不过是掩盖其资源掠夺野心的幌子。

Their so-called 'aid' is merely a guise to cover their ambition for resource plundering.

Critical political analysis.

掠夺者与被掠夺者之间的辩证关系构成了这部小说的核心。

The dialectical relationship between the plunderer and the plundered forms the core of this novel.

Dialectical analysis (辩证关系).

在全球化背景下，知识产权的掠夺变得更加隐蔽。

In the context of globalization, the plundering of intellectual property has become more covert.

Modern legal/tech context.

这种对灵魂的掠夺，其残酷程度远超肉体的奴役。

This plundering of the soul exceeds the cruelty of physical enslavement.

Deeply metaphorical literary usage.

掠夺者肆意践踏着国际准则，挑战着人类文明的底线。

The plunderers wantonly trample on international norms and challenge the bottom line of human civilization.

High-level political discourse.

唯有建立公平的秩序，才能彻底终结这种掠夺的循环。

Only by establishing a fair order can this cycle of plundering be completely ended.

Conditional structure (唯有...才).

Synonyms

抢夺劫掠剥削占据夺取

Antonyms

给予偿还保护

Common Collocations

掠夺资源

掠夺财富

掠夺土地

掠夺性定价

掠夺性贷款

掠夺文物

疯狂掠夺

无情掠夺

掠夺式开发

掠夺行为

Common Phrases

掠夺一空

— To plunder everything until nothing is left.

村庄被海盗掠夺一空。

掠夺成性

— To have a plundering nature or habit.

这些侵略者掠夺成性。

变相掠夺

— A disguised form of plundering.

高额手续费是变相掠夺。

殖民掠夺

— Colonial plundering.

殖民掠夺的历史影响深远。

武装掠夺

— Armed plundering/robbery.

严禁武装掠夺。

非法掠夺

— Illegal seizure.

非法掠夺公民财产。

资源掠夺

— Resource plundering.

资源掠夺引发了冲突。

掠夺者

— A plunderer or predator.

他是大自然的掠夺者。

公开掠夺

— Open/blatant plundering.

这是对公理的公开掠夺。

掠夺性

— Predatory nature.

掠夺性的商业模式。

Often Confused With

掠夺 vs 抢劫

Qiǎngjié is for personal/criminal robbery; Lüèduó is for large-scale/systemic plundering.

掠夺 vs 侵略

Qīnlüè means to invade (territory); Lüèduó means to plunder (resources).

掠夺 vs 剥削

Bōxuē is exploitation (usually labor); Lüèduó is forceful seizure (usually property).

Idioms & Expressions

"烧杀掠夺"

— To burn, kill, and plunder (describing war atrocities).

侵略军到处烧杀掠夺。

Historical/Literary

"掠夺殆尽"

— To plunder until completely exhausted.

这里的矿产已被掠夺殆尽。

Formal

"肆意掠夺"

— To plunder wantonly or without restraint.

他们肆意掠夺他国资源。

Formal

"强取豪夺"

— To take by force and trickery; to extort.

他用强取豪夺的方式占有了公司。

Idiomatic

"杀人越货"

— To kill someone and rob them of their goods.

那些强盗干的是杀人越货的勾当。

Old-fashioned

"巧取豪夺"

— To take by clever trickery or force.

他巧取豪夺，骗取了老人的房产。

Idiomatic

"搜刮殆尽"

— To extort until nothing is left.

百姓的钱财已被搜刮殆尽。

Formal

"劫富济贫"

— To rob the rich to help the poor (positive twist on taking).

他自诩是劫富济贫的大侠。

Literary

"坐收渔利"

— To reap the spoils while others fight (indirect plundering).

他在两虎相斗时坐收渔利。

Idiomatic

"因公假私"

— To use public office for private gain (a form of plundering).

由于因公假私，他被调查了。

Formal

Easily Confused

掠夺 vs 掠取

Similar sound and meaning.

掠取 is slightly more general and can be used for abstract things like 'credit,' while 掠夺 is more violent and resource-focused.

他掠取了属于我的荣誉。

掠夺 vs 劫掠

Almost synonymous.

劫掠 is more literary and often describes the chaotic pillaging during a riot or war.

暴徒在街上劫掠商店。

掠夺 vs 攫取

Both mean taking greedily.

攫取 focuses on the greed and the 'grabbing' motion, often used for power or profit, whereas 掠夺 focuses on the force and loss to the victim.

他疯狂攫取权力。

掠夺 vs 霸占

Both involve taking by force.

霸占 specifically implies taking over and 'occupying' something (like a house or land), while 掠夺 can be just taking things away.

他霸占了这间办公室。

掠夺 vs 侵吞

Both are illegal taking.

侵吞 implies 'swallowing up' or embezzling, often secretly or through position, rather than through open force.

他侵吞了公司的资产。

Sentence Patterns

A 掠夺了 B 的 [Noun]

侵略者掠夺了该国的资源。

[Noun] 被掠夺一空

村庄里的财物被掠夺一空。

这是对 [Noun] 的变相掠夺

这是对劳动者剩余价值的变相掠夺。

采取掠夺性的 [Noun]

大公司采取掠夺性的手段。

充斥着掠夺与 [Noun]

史书里充斥着掠夺与战乱。

反对掠夺式的 [Noun]

我们反对掠夺式的捕捞。

掠夺...的权利

战争掠夺了孩子们受教育的权利。

从...中掠夺

从自然中无止境地掠夺。

Word Family

Nouns

掠夺者 (Plunderer)

掠夺物 (Spoils/Plunder)

Verbs

掠 (Plunder)

夺 (Seize)

劫掠 (Pillage)

Adjectives

掠夺性的 (Predatory)

掠夺式的 (Plundering-style)

侵略 (Invade)

剥削 (Exploit)

抢劫 (Rob)

占领 (Occupy)

吞并 (Annex)

How to Use It

frequency

High in formal media, history, and academic writing.

Common Mistakes

他掠夺了我的手机。 → 他抢走了我的手机。
掠夺 is too formal and large-scale for a single phone.
我们要掠夺这个国家。 → 我们要侵略这个国家。
You invade (侵略) a country; you plunder (掠夺) its resources.
这种掠夺是很好的。 → 这种获取是很好的。
掠夺 is always negative. Use '获取' (acquisition) for positive taking.
掠夺者们掠夺了土地。 → 掠夺者们霸占了土地。
While 掠夺 land is possible, '霸占' is often better if they are staying there.
Pronouncing 'lüè' as 'luò'. → lüè
Lüè (plunder) vs Luò (fall) are different words.

Tips

Context Matters

Always use 掠夺 in formal or serious contexts. It's perfect for essays about history or environment.

Pairing

Remember the collocation '掠夺资源'. It's the most common way to use this word.

Adjective Form

Add '性的' to make it 'predatory' (掠夺性的). Useful for business and psychology.

Tone Accuracy

Practice the 4th tone (Lüè) followed by the 2nd tone (Duó) to sound natural.

Radical Recognition

Look for the 扌 radical. It helps you remember that this is an action of 'taking'.

News Keywords

When you see this word in a headline, expect a story about conflict or environmental damage.

Be Precise

Don't confuse it with '侵略'. You invade (侵略) to plunder (掠夺).

Historical Weight

In China, this word is often linked to colonial history, so use it with awareness of its emotional weight.

Formal Markers

If you hear '大规模' (large-scale) before a 'lüè' sound, it's almost certainly 掠夺.

Visual Aid

Visualize a hand (扌) grabbing a hoard of gold to remember the meaning and the radical.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a **Hand** (扌) reaching out to **Lüè** (plunder) and then another **Hand** (扌) to **Duó** (snatch) the gold. Two hands taking everything!

Visual Association

A picture of a colonial ship carrying away gold bars from a beach while local people look on sadly.

Word Web

War Colonialism Resources Force Theft Predatory Exploitation Injustice

Challenge

Try to write a sentence using '掠夺' to describe a historical event and another to describe an environmental issue.

Word Origin

The word consists of two characters with the 'hand' radical (扌). '掠' (lüè) originally meant to whip or beat, but evolved to mean plundering or brushing past. '夺' (duó) originally depicted a hand holding a bird, suggesting taking something away or losing something.

Original meaning: To forcibly take away possessions, often in a military context.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using this word in political contexts, as it is a very strong accusation of theft and immorality.

In English, 'plunder' sounds somewhat archaic or related to pirates. In Chinese, '掠夺' is very modern and commonly used in news.

圆明园的掠夺 (The plundering of the Old Summer Palace) 《掠夺：一种全球史》 (Plunder: A Global History - common book title theme) 掠夺性定价 (Predatory pricing in anti-monopoly law)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

History

殖民掠夺
掠夺文物
战争掠夺
掠夺土地

Economics

掠夺性定价
掠夺性贷款
掠夺财富
资本掠夺

Environment

掠夺式开发
掠夺资源
生态掠夺
掠夺自然

Biology

掠夺者
掠夺行为
捕食与掠夺
掠夺性物种

Law

非法掠夺
掠夺行为
财产掠夺
制裁掠夺

Conversation Starters

"你如何看待历史上那些被掠夺的文物？"

"你认为掠夺性定价会对市场产生什么影响？"

"我们应该如何防止对自然资源的掠夺式开发？"

"在数字时代，我们的个人信息是否正在被掠夺？"

"你读过关于海盗掠夺宝藏的故事吗？"

Journal Prompts

写一段关于一个被掠夺的古城的虚构故事。

讨论掠夺式开发对你家乡环境的影响。

分析为什么历史上的殖民掠夺对今天仍有影响。

如果你是一个掠夺者的受害者，你会如何通过法律保护自己？

探讨‘知识掠夺’在现代社会中的表现形式。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it sounds too dramatic. If someone takes your pen, use '拿' or '抢'. 掠夺 is for resources, wealth, or history.

抢劫 is the legal term for a robbery (like a bank robbery). 掠夺 is a broader, more formal term for plundering, often by a group or country.

Yes, it almost always implies an unfair, forceful, and negative action. Even in biology, it describes a predator-prey relationship which is neutral but 'aggressive'.

It is '掠夺性定价' (lüèduó xìng dìngjià).

Yes, it can mean 'the act of plundering.' For example: '对资源的掠夺' (the plundering of resources).

Both characters have the 'hand' radical (扌), which shows the word involves a physical action by the hands.

Rarely in casual speech. You will hear it on the news, in documentaries, or read it in books.

Yes, in a biological context, it can describe predatory behavior, though '捕食' is more common for the act of eating.

It means 'predatory/exploitative development,' where resources are taken without care for the future.

Yes, '掠夺文物' (plundering cultural relics) is a very common phrase in China.