躪

Central idea: “to step on with violence,” both physically and morally.

Phono-semantic compound:

足 (발 족) — semantic element, indicates actions of the feet: stepping, trampling, treading

藺 (골풀 린) — phonetic element, provides sound (린/인), not contributing meaning

Thus 躪 originally meant “to step forcibly with the feet.”

Over time it expanded metaphorically into oppression, humiliation, or violence against dignity.

Semantic evolution:

Though originally physical, 躪 became strongly associated with:

- military conquest

- political oppression

- severe humiliation of individuals or nations

Hence it appears frequently in historical, military, and legal literature.

In Korean, 躪(린) appears in formal, literary, legal, or academic vocabulary related to oppression, violation, or trampling.

Violent trampling / crushing:

踐躪 (천린) — 짓밟고 유린함; to trample and oppress

蹂躪 (유린) — 짓밟아 헤침; to ravage, violate, trample upon (the most common Korean usage, with 蹂躪)

Oppression / violation:

躪辱 (린욕) — 짓밟고 모욕함; humiliating oppression

躪逼 (린핍) — 강제로 억압함; to force and oppress (rare)

Figurative:

國土蹂躪 (국토유린) — 국토를 짓밟아 침탈함; devastation of land

人權蹂躪 (인권유린) — 인권을 밟고 무시함; human rights violations

踐 vs. 蹂躪 vs. 躪:

踐 — to tread on; can be neutral or mild

蹂躪 — violent destruction, ravaging, “trample + trample”

躪 — “to trample violently,” often emphatic or literary

Classical citations:

《史記·項羽本紀》 (Records of the Grand Historian)

「踐諸侯之國，躪其民。」

“He trampled the feudal states and oppressed their people” — 躪 = violent subjugation.

《後漢書·馮衍傳》 (Book of the Later Han)

「兵士躪踐，民不聊生。」

“The soldiers trampled upon them, and the people could no longer sustain their lives.”

《文選·張衡〈思玄賦〉》 (Wenxuan, Anthology of Literature)

「獸躪草，風摧木。」

“Beasts trample the grass; the wind breaks the trees” — literal trampling in nature imagery.

《宋史·刑法志》 (History of Song Dynasty)

「陵遲躪辱，以極其痛。」

“To torment them by humiliation and trampling, bringing them to utmost suffering.”

蹸 — attested early variant; same meaning