Meaning
服刑 means to serve a criminal sentence, typically in prison. It refers to the period when a convicted person is carrying out their punishment as ordered by the court. The word conveys the formal legal process of imprisonment and is used in official and news contexts.
Usage
This is a formal, legal term commonly found in news reports, legal documents, and official statements. It is not typically used in casual conversation. When talking about someone in prison, people might say someone is 'serving time' (服刑) or 'in prison' (在监狱里). Often appears with duration phrases like 服刑三年 (serve three years).
Examples
- 01他因诈骗罪在监狱服刑五年。.He is serving a five-year sentence in prison for fraud.
- 02服刑期间表现良好可以减刑。.Good behavior during imprisonment can lead to a reduced sentence.
Characters
Common collocations
- 服刑期间during imprisonment
- 正在服刑currently serving a sentence
- 服刑三年serve a three-year sentence
Antonyms
Origin
服 originally meant 'to submit' or 'to comply,' while 刑 refers to criminal punishment. Together they literally mean 'to submit to punishment' or 'to comply with one's sentence.'