罪
Character Story & Explanation
In contemporary China, 罪 appears daily in legal reporting, courtroom verdicts, and public service announcements—e.g., CCTV’s crime prevention campaigns use phrases like '知法犯法，罪加一等' (zhī fǎ fàn fǎ, zuì jiā yī děng: 'Knowing the law yet breaking it merits harsher punishment'). It’s central to idioms like 罪大恶极 (zuì dà è jí, 'heinous crime') and the fixed legal term 无罪 (wú zuì, 'not guilty'). Historically, it was inscribed on Han dynasty bamboo slips detailing penal codes, confirming its longstanding judicial role.
The character’s form evolved from seal script, where 罒 (a variant of 网 'net') surmounted 自 (zì, 'self')—not 'nose' as sometimes misstated, but originally representing 'one’s own conduct'. By the Han period, 自 was replaced by 非 (fēi, 'not right'), clarifying moral deviation. Today, people write 罪 when filing complaints, reading verdicts, or discussing historical injustices—always with gravity, never lightly.
The character 罪 (zuì) carries deep moral and legal weight in Chinese culture—it’s not just 'guilt' as an emotion, but a formal designation of wrongdoing with societal consequences. In classical texts like the Book of Documents, 罪 appears in contexts of state punishment and heavenly retribution, reflecting its ancient link to justice and cosmic order. Its gravity means it rarely appears in casual speech; instead, it surfaces in courtrooms, news headlines, and solemn ethical discussions.
Unlike English 'guilt', which can be psychological or legal, 罪 is overwhelmingly juridical and objective: one is declared 罪 (e.g., 有罪 yǒu zuì, 'found guilty') by authority—not merely feeling remorse. This distinction shapes how Chinese speakers frame responsibility: guilt must be adjudicated, not just felt. The character thus anchors discourse on law, accountability, and social harmony, making it essential for advanced learners navigating formal or media Chinese.
The radical 罒 (originally 网 wǎng, 'net') visually reinforces this idea—like a net cast over wrongdoing. Though simplified, the top still evokes entrapment or surveillance, while 下 (xià, 'below') grounds the concept in earthly consequence. This structural duality—cosmic oversight + human judgment—mirrors Confucian and Legalist thought where moral failure disrupts both heaven and society. Mastering 罪 means grasping how Chinese conceptualizes fault as relational, institutional, and visible—not private or abstract.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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