Meaning
不合法 means something that does not conform to the law or legal standards. It's formed by negating 合法 (legal/lawful) with 不. This term is commonly used in legal, governmental, and everyday contexts to describe actions, behaviors, documents, or activities that violate established laws or regulations.
Usage
不合法 is a formal term frequently used in legal contexts, news reports, and official documents. In casual conversation, people might also say 违法 (to break the law) or 非法 (illegal) depending on the severity. It can describe anything from unauthorized documents to criminal activities.
Examples
- 01这份合同是不合法的，不能生效。, .This contract is illegal and cannot take effect.
- 02在这个国家，没有许可证经营餐馆是不合法的。, .In this country, operating a restaurant without a license is illegal.
Characters
Common collocations
- 不合法的行为illegal behavior
- 不合法移民illegal immigrant
- 属于不合法to be illegal
Antonyms
Origin
Literally means 'not conforming to law.' The character 法 originally depicted water (氵) flowing away (去), representing an impartial standard like water finding its level, later extended to mean 'law' or 'method.'