èbà: 恶霸 - Bully, Despot, Thug, Local Tyrant

• Keywords: eba, èbà, 恶霸, Chinese word for bully, Chinese tyrant, local despot, Chinese gangster, what does eba mean, thug in Chinese, local overlord, Chinese crime boss.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 恶霸 (èbà), a powerful Chinese term that goes far beyond a simple “bully.” Learn how this word describes a local tyrant or despot who dominates a community through force and intimidation. This guide explores the cultural significance of the 恶霸 in Chinese film and society, breaks down its characters, and provides practical examples for how to use this evocative term correctly.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): èbà
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (but a common and important term)
• Concise Definition: A cruel and oppressive local tyrant who uses force and intimidation to dominate others.
• In a Nutshell: An 恶霸 (èbà) is much more than a schoolyard bully. Imagine a local crime boss, a domineering market kingpin, or a corrupt village chief who rules a specific territory—be it a neighborhood, a construction site, or a school—with an iron fist. They abuse their power, exploit the weak, and act as if they are above the law. The term carries a strong sense of systematic oppression and territorial control.

• 恶 (è): This character means “evil,” “wicked,” or “vicious.” It's one of the most direct ways to describe something morally bad in Chinese. Think of words like 邪恶 (xié'è) - evil, or 恶心 (ěxīn) - disgusting.
• 霸 (bà): This character means “hegemon,” “overlord,” or “tyrant.” It implies dominance and power, often achieved through force. It's famously used in the term 霸王 (bàwáng), “hegemon-king,” a title for a powerful, conquering ruler.
• When combined, 恶霸 (èbà) literally translates to “evil overlord.” The meaning is unambiguous and powerful: a person who uses their power for evil, tyrannical purposes.

The 恶霸 (èbà) is a classic antagonist in Chinese culture, appearing frequently in literature, film, and television dramas. They are the quintessential local villain, embodying corruption, injustice, and the suffering of the common people (老百姓, lǎobǎixìng). In many classic kung fu films or historical dramas set in the early 20th century, the 恶霸 is often a wealthy landlord or a corrupt official who terrorizes a village, demanding exorbitant rent or taxes and taking whatever he wants. The hero's journey often involves standing up to and defeating this 恶霸, thereby restoring justice to the community. Comparison to Western Concepts: While “bully” or “thug” are close translations, they don't capture the full scope of 恶霸.

• A bully might be an individual who torments another person. An 恶霸, however, controls a territory or system. They have underlings and run an operation, like extorting “protection money” from all the shops on a street.
• A mob boss is similar but often implies a larger, more organized criminal syndicate like the Mafia. An 恶霸 can be a mob boss, but the term is also used for a “lone wolf” tyrant who has established a small-scale fiefdom through sheer force of personality and violence. A good synonym is “local tyrant” or the evocative Chinese term 土皇帝 (tǔhuángdì), meaning “local emperor.”

This figure is culturally significant because it taps into the deep-seated Chinese value of justice and the desire for a harmonious, stable society where the powerful do not prey on the weak.

In modern China, 恶霸 (èbà) is still a very relevant and potent term.

• Crime and News: It's frequently used in news reports about government crackdowns on organized crime. The national campaign called 扫黑除恶 (sǎohēi chú'è), meaning “Sweep Away Black [Crime] and Eliminate Evil,” directly targets these local tyrants. Someone arrested for running an illegal gambling den and using violence to control a neighborhood would be labeled an 恶霸.
• Metaphorical Use: The term can be used metaphorically to describe anyone who is extremely domineering in a specific environment.
  • 职场恶霸 (zhíchǎng èbà): A “workplace tyrant”—a boss or colleague who uses intimidation, abuse, and power plays to control the office environment.
  • 校园恶霸 (xiàoyuán èbà): A “schoolyard tyrant”—this is more than a simple bully. It refers to a student who leads a gang, extorts others, and creates a climate of fear in the school.
• Connotation: The term is 100% negative and is a very serious accusation. You would not use it lightly in conversation unless you are describing genuinely criminal or deeply abusive behavior.

• Example 1:
  • 警方终于逮捕了那个长期欺压乡邻的恶霸。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng zhōngyú dàibǔle nàge chángqī qīyā xiānglín de èbà.
  • English: The police finally arrested that local tyrant who had been oppressing the villagers for a long time.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, literal usage of the term, often seen in news reports. It highlights the criminal nature and long-term oppression associated with an 恶霸.
• Example 2:
  • 在旧社会，很多地主都是横行乡里的恶霸。
  • Pinyin: Zài jiù shèhuì, hěnduō dìzhǔ dōu shì héngxíng xiānglǐ de èbà.
  • English: In the old society, many landlords were local despots who ran roughshod over the countryside.
  • Analysis: This sentence places the 恶霸 in a historical context, linking it to the figure of the oppressive landlord, a common trope in Chinese storytelling.
• Example 3:
  • 他是我们公司的“职场恶霸”，没人敢对他说“不”。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì wǒmen gōngsī de “zhíchǎng èbà”, méi rén gǎn duì tā shuō “bù”.
  • English: He's the “workplace tyrant” of our company; no one dares to say “no” to him.
  • Analysis: This is a modern, metaphorical use. While the person isn't likely committing crimes, their behavior is so domineering and abusive that it's compared to a true 恶霸.
• Example 4:
  • 这部电影讲述了一个功夫高手为民除害，打倒了恶霸的故事。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng jiǎngshùle yīgè gōngfū gāoshǒu wèi mín chú hài, dǎdǎole èbà de gùshì.
  • English: This movie tells the story of a kung fu master who eliminated a public menace and defeated the local tyrant.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the 恶霸 as a stock character in fiction, particularly in the martial arts genre. “为民除害” (wèi mín chú hài) means “to get rid of a scourge for the people.”
• Example 5:
  • 政府发起了“扫黑除恶”专项斗争，决心打击地方恶霸势力。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ fāqǐle “sǎo hēi chú è” zhuānxiàng dòuzhēng, juéxīn dǎjī dìfāng èbà shìlì.
  • English: The government launched the “Sweep Away Black Crime and Eliminate Evil” special campaign, determined to crack down on local despot forces.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used in official government language and policy, highlighting how seriously this type of criminal activity is taken.
• Example 6:
  • 那个市场的恶霸向所有摊贩收取保护费。
  • Pinyin: Nàge shìchǎng de èbà xiàng suǒyǒu tānfàn shōuqǔ bǎohùfèi.
  • English: The tyrant of that market collects protection fees from all the stall owners.
  • Analysis: This is a very specific and realistic example of what an 恶霸 does—control a commercial territory through extortion.
• Example 7:
  • 他只是有点霸道，别随便叫人家恶霸。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhǐshì yǒudiǎn bàdào, bié suíbiàn jiào rénjiā èbà.
  • English: He's just a bit domineering, don't just casually call him a despot.
  • Analysis: This sentence serves as a warning about the term's severity. It differentiates between being “霸道” (bàdào - domineering) and being a full-fledged 恶霸 (èbà).
• Example 8:
  • 小时候，我们村里有个恶霸，谁家的鸡跑他家院里就别想要回来了。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎoshíhou, wǒmen cūnlǐ yǒu ge èbà, shéi jiā de jī pǎo tā jiā yuàn lǐ jiù bié xiǎng yào huílái le.
  • English: When I was little, there was a bully-tyrant in our village; if anyone's chicken ran into his yard, you could forget about getting it back.
  • Analysis: This example shows a more personal, anecdotal use of the term. It describes behavior that, while seemingly petty, establishes a pattern of bullying and theft that terrorizes a small community.
• Example 9:
  • 面对校园恶霸，我们不应该沉默，要勇敢地向老师报告。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì xiàoyuán èbà, wǒmen bù yìnggāi chénmò, yào yǒnggǎn de xiàng lǎoshī bàogào.
  • English: When faced with a school tyrant, we shouldn't remain silent; we must bravely report them to the teacher.
  • Analysis: This highlights the modern compound “校园恶霸” (xiàoyuán èbà) and frames the issue as a serious problem requiring intervention, not just a simple case of kids being kids.
• Example 10:
  • 那个恶霸最终因为多项罪名被判了无期徒刑。
  • Pinyin: Nàge èbà zuìzhōng yīnwèi duō xiàng zuìmíng bèi pànle wúqī túxíng.
  • English: That despot was ultimately sentenced to life in prison for multiple crimes.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the grave legal consequences of being an 恶霸, reinforcing that the term describes a serious criminal.

• Don't Confuse with a Simple Bully: The most common mistake for English speakers is to use 恶霸 (èbà) for any act of bullying. An 恶霸 is not just someone who is mean or pushes people around once. They are defined by their sustained and systematic control over a place or group of people.
  • Incorrect: 我的同事今天抢了我的功劳，他真是个恶霸！(My colleague stole my credit today, he's such a tyrant!) → This is an exaggeration. It's better to say he is 霸道 (bàdào - domineering) or 过分 (guòfèn - excessive).
  • Correct: 那个承包商是个恶霸，他用暴力威胁其他公司退出竞标。(That contractor is a despot; he uses violence to threaten other companies into withdrawing from the bidding.) → This is correct because it involves systematic intimidation and control over a domain (bidding).
• It's a Very Strong Accusation: Calling someone an 恶霸 (èbà) is like calling them a criminal kingpin. It implies they use violence, threats, and extortion. In a casual context, it can sound overly dramatic or aggressive. Reserve it for situations that truly merit the “evil overlord” label.

• 流氓 (liúmáng) - Hooligan, gangster. A more general term for a rogue or troublemaker. An 恶霸 is a particularly powerful and successful 流氓.
• 土皇帝 (tǔhuángdì) - “Local emperor.” A very close synonym that emphasizes the 恶霸's absolute, unchecked power within their small territory.
• 黑社会 (hēishèhuì) - Black society; the Mafia, organized crime. An 恶霸 is often the local face or leader of a 黑社会 organization.
• 霸道 (bàdào) - Domineering, tyrannical (adjective). This describes the behavior of an 恶霸. Someone can be 霸道 without being a full 恶霸.
• 欺负 (qīfu) - To bully, to pick on (verb). This is the primary action that an 恶霸 performs on others.
• 地主 (dìzhǔ) - Landlord. In historical and literary contexts, especially before 1949, this term is often synonymous with 恶霸.
• 扫黑除恶 (sǎohēi chú'è) - “Sweep away black [crime] and eliminate evil.” The official government slogan for campaigns targeting organized crime figures like 恶霸.