特赦 (tè shè) — Chinese Word

noun / verb HSK 6

tè shè

special pardon · amnesty · to grant amnesty

Meaning

特赦 refers to a special pardon or amnesty granted by the head of state to specific criminals or groups of criminals, exempting them from punishment or reducing their sentences. This is typically done to mark significant national events or anniversaries. It is a formal legal and political term.

Usage

特赦 is primarily used in formal, legal, and political contexts. In China, amnesties are announced by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and implemented by the President. The term appears frequently in news reports about government decisions and legal proceedings, but rarely in everyday conversation.

Examples

01
国家主席签署特赦令，对部分服刑罪犯实行特赦。
Guójiā zhǔxí qiānshǔ tèshè lìng, duì bùfèn fúxíng zuìfàn shíxíng tèshè.
The President signed an amnesty decree to grant amnesty to some serving criminals.
02
为庆祝中华人民共和国成立七十周年，政府决定实施特赦。
Wèi qìngzhù Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó chénglì qīshí zhōunián, zhèngfǔ juédìng shíshī tèshè.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government decided to implement an amnesty.

Characters

Measure words

次cì这是第九次特赦

Common collocations

宣布特赦
xuān bù tè shè
to announce an amnesty
特赦令
tè shè lìng
amnesty decree
获得特赦
huò dé tè shè
to receive amnesty
实施特赦
shí shī tè shè
to implement an amnesty

Antonyms

Origin

赦 has ancient origins in Chinese legal terminology, appearing in classical texts to denote imperial pardons. 特 (special) was added to distinguish extraordinary pardons from general amnesties.