'剥削' (bō xuē) literally combines '剥' (to peel, strip off) and '削' (to pare, scrape away), evoking the image of forcibly removing layers — like skin from fruit or value from people. Figuratively, it means 'exploitation': the unjust, often systemic, extraction of labor, resources, or value from individuals or groups for others’ benefit. It carries strong negative moral and political connotations, frequently used in discussions about unfair labor practices, colonialism, class inequality, or economic injustice.

The term is common in formal, academic, journalistic, and activist contexts — especially when critiquing power imbalances. While historically prominent in Marxist discourse in China, it remains widely used today to describe real-world inequities, such as underpaid factory work or predatory lending. Unlike neutral terms like 'use' or 'utilize', 剥削 always implies harm, coercion, and ethical violation — never benign or voluntary exchange.