威吓 (wēi hè) means 'intimidation' or 'coercion' — the act of frightening someone into compliance, often through threats or displays of power. The first character 威 (wēi) means 'power', 'authority', or 'menace', while 吓 (hè) means 'to frighten' or 'to scare'. Together, they form a compound that emphasizes deliberate, forceful psychological pressure rather than mere fear. It carries a formal, slightly literary tone and is commonly used in legal, political, or social contexts involving power imbalance.

This word often appears in written Chinese — news reports, official statements, or academic discussions — to describe actions meant to suppress dissent, extract concessions, or assert dominance. While it can function as a noun ('an act of intimidation'), it also works as a transitive verb ('to intimidate someone'). Unlike casual words for 'scare' (e.g., 吓唬), 威吓 implies seriousness, intent, and often illegitimacy or abuse of power.