sexual abuse

IPA/ˌsek.ʃu.əl əˈbjuːs/
IPA/ˌsek.ʃu.əl əˈbjuːs/

sexual abuse — 名詞

1. sexual contact or behaviour forced on someone who does not want it or is unable

1.名詞B2
釋義

性虐待

違反意願的性行為

sexual contact or behaviour forced on someone who does not want it or is unable to agree to it, especially when the victim is a child or a person in a position of weakness.

例句

The Safe Haven charity runs free counselling groups for survivors of sexual abuse every Tuesday evening.

Safe Haven 慈善機構每週二晚上為性虐待的倖存者舉辦免費的諮詢小組活動。

collocation: survivors of sexual abuse

A government report revealed widespread sexual abuse in the foster care system.

一份政府報告揭露寄養體系中存在大規模的性虐待問題。

同義詞
  • molestation

    more specific to unwanted touching, often of children; narrower than 'sexual abuse'

  • assault

    broader term covering any unwanted sexual contact or threat; used more in legal contexts

文法句型

sexual abuse of + person/group

用法筆記

Often used in contexts of care, institutions, and child welfare. Frequently appears with verbs like 'suffer', 'survive', 'report', and 'disclose'.

常見錯誤

❌She was a victim of sexual harassment.' (when the act involved physical contact).
✅She was a victim of sexual abuse.
💡'harassment' typically refers to unwanted remarks or behaviour without physical contact, while 'abuse' usually involves physical contact or coercion.
❌He committed sexual abuse on the child.
✅He committed sexual abuse against the child.
💡the correct preposition is 'against', not 'on'.

2. the specific crime of forcing sexual contact on someone by physical force or thr

2.名詞B2
釋義

性侵害

法律定義的性犯罪

the specific crime of forcing sexual contact on someone by physical force or threats, or by having sex with someone who is legally unable to agree to it because of their age, a mental condition, or the effects of alcohol or drugs.

例句

The former coach was convicted of sexual abuse and sentenced to twelve years in prison.

這位前教練被判性侵害罪成立，處以十二年有期徒刑。

collocation: convicted of sexual abuse

New laws in 2022 expanded the legal definition of sexual abuse to cover online grooming of teenagers.

2022 年的新法將性侵害的法律定義擴大到涵蓋對青少年的網路誘騙行為。

collocation: definition of sexual abuse

同義詞
  • sexual assault

    used interchangeably in many legal systems; 'assault' often covers a wider range of non-contact offences as well

  • statutory rape

    specifically refers to sexual activity with a person below the age of consent; a subtype of sexual abuse

文法句型

charge/conviction of sexual abuse

sexual abuse of + person

用法筆記

Frequently found in legal, law-enforcement, and news reporting contexts. This sense is the one used in criminal codes and court proceedings. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is narrower — it refers specifically to acts that meet the legal definition of a crime.

常見錯誤

❌He was charged of sexual abuse.
✅He was charged with sexual abuse.
💡the verb 'charge' takes 'with', not 'of'.
❌Sexual abuse is when someone touches you without permission.' (too vague for a legal context).
✅Sexual abuse is a criminal offence that involves forcing sexual contact on someone by physical compulsion or by taking advantage of their inability to consent.
💡legal definitions need precision about force or incapacity.