xíjī: 袭击 - To Attack, Raid, Assault

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• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 袭击 (xí jī), a crucial HSK 5 term meaning to attack, raid, or assault. This guide explores its specific meaning of a sudden, often surprise, physical attack, commonly used in news reports about military, terrorist, or criminal events. Understand how 袭击 (xí jī) differs from the more general word for “attack” (攻击 gōngjī) and see practical examples of its use in modern Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xí jī
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To launch a sudden or surprise attack on a target.
• In a Nutshell: 袭击 (xí jī) isn't just any attack; it's a serious and formal word with a strong feeling of a sudden, premeditated raid or assault. Think of a commando raid, a terrorist attack, or a sudden ambush. It's the word you will see and hear constantly in news reports, historical documentaries, and official statements about violent conflicts.

• 袭 (xí): This character originally referred to inheriting something or putting on an extra layer of clothing. This evolved to mean “to make a surprise attack,” carrying the idea of advancing on an enemy under cover or in disguise. The core idea for a learner is “surprise raid” or “to advance upon.”
• 击 (jī): This character is more straightforward. The radical on the left, 扌, is a variation of 手 (shǒu), meaning “hand.” The character depicts a hand striking something. Its meaning is simply “to hit,” “to strike,” or “to attack.”

When combined, 袭击 (xí jī) literally means “to raid and strike.” The combination reinforces the idea of a planned, sudden, and forceful physical assault.

While 袭击 (xí jī) doesn't carry deep philosophical weight like concepts such as 关系 (guānxi), its cultural significance lies in its specific and formal usage in Chinese public discourse. In English, the word “attack” is incredibly broad. You can “attack a problem,” “suffer a heart attack,” or launch a “verbal attack.” The Chinese term 袭击 (xí jī) is far more specific and almost exclusively refers to a physical, violent assault with an element of surprise. This reflects a certain precision in the language used by Chinese media and official bodies. When you hear 袭击 on the news, there is no ambiguity: it refers to a physical act of violence, such as a military operation, a terrorist incident, or a serious criminal assault. A “verbal attack” would use a different word, like 攻击 (gōngjī) or 辱骂 (rǔmà). Understanding this distinction is key to comprehending the severity and context of events as reported in China.

袭击 (xí jī) is a formal word you will encounter most frequently in written and spoken news, official announcements, and historical accounts.

• News and Media: This is the primary context. Reports on military conflicts, terrorist activities, or violent crime will almost always use 袭击.
  • e.g., “A report on the recent terrorist 袭击 (attack).”
• As a Noun: It is commonly used as a noun, often paired with measure words like 场 (chǎng) or 次 (cì).
  • e.g., “The city experienced a surprise 袭击 (a surprise attack).”
• Law and Order: Police reports might describe how a victim was 袭击 (assaulted) or how police units 袭击 (raided) a criminal hideout.
• Figurative Usage: While less common, it can be used figuratively for sudden, destructive events, like a computer virus or a natural disaster.
  • e.g., “A new virus 袭击 (attacked) thousands of computers.”

You would not use 袭击 in casual, everyday conversation for minor things. For example, you wouldn't say your friend “袭击” you as a joke. It always implies seriousness and violence.

• Example 1:
  • 恐怖分子袭击了市中心的火车站。
  • Pinyin: Kǒngbù fènzǐ xíjīle shìzhōngxīn de huǒchēzhàn.
  • English: The terrorists attacked the city center's train station.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, textbook use of 袭击 in the context of terrorism, as seen in news reports.
• Example 2:
  • 这支特种部队在夜间袭击了敌人的指挥部。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhī tèzhǒng bùduì zài yèjiān xíjīle dírén de zhǐhuī bù.
  • English: This special forces unit raided the enemy's command post at night.
  • Analysis: Here, 袭击 translates best as “raided,” highlighting the military context and the element of surprise (at night).
• Example 3:
  • 他在回家的路上遭到了不明人士的袭击。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài huíjiā de lùshang zāodào le bùmíng rénshì de xíjī.
  • English: He was assaulted by unknown persons on his way home.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows 袭击 used for a criminal assault. The passive structure with 遭到 (zāodào - to suffer/encounter) is common when describing victims.
• Example 4:
  • 昨晚的袭击事件造成了三人受伤。
  • Pinyin: Zuówǎn de xíjī shìjiàn zàochéngle sān rén shòushāng.
  • English: Last night's attack resulted in three people being injured.
  • Analysis: Here, 袭击 is used as a noun (“attack”). 事件 (shìjiàn) means “incident.”
• Example 5:
  • 野生动物保护区的游客被一只熊袭击了。
  • Pinyin: Yěshēng dòngwù bǎohùqū de yóukè bèi yī zhī xióng xíjīle.
  • English: A tourist in the wildlife reserve was attacked by a bear.
  • Analysis: This shows that 袭击 can also apply to sudden animal attacks.
• Example 6:
  • 黑客袭击了该公司的服务器，窃取了大量数据。
  • Pinyin: Hēikè xíjīle gāi gōngsī de fúwùqì, qièqǔle dàliàng shùjù.
  • English: Hackers attacked the company's servers, stealing a large amount of data.
  • Analysis: A common figurative use of 袭击 in the context of cybersecurity.
• Example 7:
  • 珍珠港袭击是第二次世界大战的重要转折点。
  • Pinyin: Zhēnzhūgǎng xíjī shì Dì'èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn de zhòngyào zhuǎnzhédiǎn.
  • English: The attack on Pearl Harbor was a major turning point in World War II.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its use in a major historical context, where 袭击 is used as a noun.
• Example 8:
  • 一股强冷空气即将袭击我国北方地区。
  • Pinyin: Yī gǔ qiáng lěngkōngqì jíjiāng xíjī wǒguó běifāng dìqū.
  • English: A strong cold air mass is about to hit the northern regions of our country.
  • Analysis: Another figurative use, common in weather forecasting, where the weather event is personified as an attacker. “Hit” is a good translation here.
• Example 9:
  • 警方成功阻止了一次针对大使馆的袭击计划。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng chénggōng zǔzhǐle yī cì zhēnduì dàshǐguǎn de xíjī jìhuà.
  • English: The police successfully thwarted a planned attack against the embassy.
  • Analysis: 袭击 is used as a noun, modified by 计划 (jìhuà), meaning “plan.”
• Example 10:
  • 我们必须准备好应对任何形式的袭击。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū zhǔnbèi hǎo yìngduì rènhé xíngshì de xíjī.
  • English: We must be prepared to respond to any form of attack.
  • Analysis: A formal statement where 袭击 (noun) refers to potential future assaults.

• 袭击 (xí jī) vs. 攻击 (gōng jī): This is the most critical distinction.
  • 攻击 (gōng jī) is the general word for “attack.” It can be physical, verbal, abstract, or even used in sports. (e.g., 攻击对方的弱点 - attack the opponent's weakness).
  • 袭击 (xí jī) is specific. It implies a sudden, physical, and often premeditated assault. It is almost never used for verbal or abstract attacks.
  • Mistake: Saying “他用尖锐的言语袭击我。” (He xíjī'd me with sharp words.)
  • Correction: “他用尖锐的言语攻击我。” (He gōngjī'd me with sharp words.)
• Formality: Remember, 袭击 is a formal word. In casual conversation among friends, it would sound overly dramatic. If your little brother jumps out to scare you, he didn't 袭击 you. The word carries a heavy, serious weight.

• 攻击 (gōngjī) - The general, all-purpose word for “attack.” 袭击 is a specific type of 攻击.
• 突袭 (tūxí) - A sudden raid. The character 突 (tū) means “sudden,” so this term places even more emphasis on the element of surprise than 袭击.
• 偷袭 (tōuxí) - A sneak attack or ambush. The character 偷 (tōu) means “to steal,” so this implies stealth and secrecy.
• 侵袭 (qīnxí) - To invade and attack. Often used for things that spread, like an army, a flood, or a disease (e.g., 病毒侵袭 - the virus invades/attacks).
• 反击 (fǎnjī) - To counter-attack or fight back. The opposite of initiating an attack.
• 打击 (dǎjī) - To strike, hit, or crack down on. Often used by authorities, e.g., 打击犯罪 (dǎjī fànzuì - to crack down on crime).
• 暴力 (bàolì) - Violence. A 袭击 is an act of 暴力.
• 恐怖主义 (kǒngbùzhǔyì) - Terrorism. A common context in which the word 袭击 is used.
• 埋伏 (máifú) - To ambush; an ambush. This is a specific tactic that could be part of a larger 袭击.