1.
to trample underfoot; to stamp on
To crush something by stepping on it forcefully and grinding it.
花を踏みにじった。
Someone trampled the flowers.
タバコの吸い殻を靴で踏みにじった。
He crushed the cigarette butt under his shoe.
彼女の畑が荒らされ、作物が踏みにじられた。
Her field was devastated and the crops trampled.
2.
to violate; to trample on (rights, feelings); to treat with contempt
Figuratively, to disregard or cruelly violate someone's rights, dignity, or feelings.
人権を踏みにじる行為だ。
It is an act that tramples on human rights.
彼の気持ちを踏みにじるようなことは言わないで。
Don't say things that trample on his feelings.
国民の信頼を踏みにじった政治家に厳しい批判が集まった。
Harsh criticism was directed at the politician who betrayed the people's trust.
USAGE:
The figurative sense (sense 2) is more common in modern usage than the literal sense. Often appears in news reporting and formal writing about rights violations or betrayals of trust.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 人権を踏みにじる (to violate human rights)
- 尊厳を踏みにじる (to trample on dignity)
- 気持ちを踏みにじる (to trample on someone's feelings)
- 信頼を踏みにじる (to betray trust)
FORMATION:
Compound verb from 踏む (to step on) + にじる (to crush by grinding). The second element にじる is rarely used independently.