2016.7.11

2016.7.11

news from BBC

Wives of China's human rights lawyers protest in Beijing

It's been one year since China launched what appeared to be an orchestrated campaign, detaining and interrogating hundreds of human rights lawyers and activists.

　　　detain　【dɪˈten】　

1. officially prevent someone from leaving a place: to hold or keep someone in a prison or some other place
   - they were detained by the police for questioning.
   - he claimed he had been illegally detained.
2. to keep or prevent someone from leaving or arriving at the expected time.
   - we were detained (=delay) for 15 minutes by a flat tire.

1.　　"It is horrible that a man could be missing in such way. I've been trying to talk to the authority, trying to find out the whereabouts of my husband, but the police keep telling me they know nothing. I am so desperate," Li Wenzu said.

　　　desperate　【ˈdɛspərɪt】　　

1. very sad and upset because of having little or no hope: feeling or showing despair
   - the collapse of her bussiness had made her desperate.
   - as the supply of food ran out, prople became desperate.
2. very bad or difficult to deal with
   - the building is in desperate (= terrible, awful) shape and may have to be demolished.
3. done with all of your strength or energy and with little hope of succeeding
   - they made one last desperate attemp to fight their way out.
4. having a strong need or desire for something or to do something
   - be desperate for
   - he is desperate for money/attention/work.
   - after traveling all night, they were desperate for sleep.
   - be desperate to
   - she was desperate to prove that she was right.