荼毒

túdú
(literary) to cause great suffering

CEDICT

literary

Entry Composition

1 荼 tú
  1. thistle
  2. common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus)
  3. bitter (taste)
  4. cruel
  5. flowering grass in profusion
2 毒 dú
  1. poison
  2. to poison
  3. poisonous
  4. malicious
  5. cruel
  6. fierce
  7. narcotics