辱骂 means 'to insult contemptuously' — it conveys harsh, degrading verbal abuse intended to humiliate or demean someone. The character 辱 (rǔ) means 'to disgrace' or 'to humiliate', while 骂 (mà) means 'to scold' or 'to curse'. Together, they form a compound verb emphasizing not just criticism but intentional, scornful degradation — often involving offensive language, mockery, or public shaming. It is stronger than ordinary criticism and carries serious moral and legal weight in Chinese society.

This word appears frequently in discussions of interpersonal conflict, online behavior, workplace ethics, and legal contexts (e.g., defamation cases). It is typically used with human subjects and direct objects (e.g., 辱骂他人), and rarely appears in neutral or light-hearted settings. Because of its severity, it’s common in formal reporting, news headlines about misconduct, or warnings against cyberbullying.