noun / verb HSK 5
punishment · penalty · sentence · to punish
Meaning
刑 refers to legal punishment or criminal penalties imposed by law. It encompasses various forms of judicial punishment including imprisonment, fines, and historically corporal punishment. The character appears frequently in legal and criminal justice contexts.
Usage
Primarily used in formal, legal, or written contexts. Common in news reports about crime and law enforcement. Usually appears in compound words rather than standing alone in modern usage. Native speakers associate it strongly with the legal system and criminal justice.
Examples
- 01他因为诈骗罪被判处五年有期徒刑。.He was sentenced to five years in prison for fraud.
- 02这个国家已经废除了死刑。.This country has already abolished the death penalty.
Common collocations
- 刑法criminal law
- 死刑death penalty
- 刑事criminal (case/law)
- 服刑to serve a sentence
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines 开 (kāi, to open) phonetic component with 刀 (dāo, knife) radical, historically representing punishment involving blades or cutting, reflecting ancient forms of corporal punishment.