(qíng) - to brand & to tattoo criminals as punishment

Tone 2

qíng | 10 strokes | radical:

· qíng

to brand;

to tattoo criminals as punishment;

to mark with a hot iron;

to brandish a weapon.

to brandto tattoo criminals as punishmentto mark with a hot iron

Usage highlights

branding punishmentbranded criminalface brandingbrand with hot ironbranding markbranding knife

Synonyms

  • to tattoo criminals as punishment
  • to brand with hot iron

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Ancient punishment involved branding criminals (剠刑).
  • The criminal was marked on the face (面上剠字).
  • He brandished his sword threateningly (剠刀示威).

Collocations

  • branding punishment(剠刑)
  • branded criminal(剠徒)
  • face branding(面剠)
  • brand with hot iron(铁剠)
  • branding mark(剠印)
  • branding knife(剠刀)

Idioms

  • Branding punishment and tattooing(剠刑黥面)
  • Branded on the face and tattooed on the body(面剠身黥)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used in ancient Chinese penal systems as a form of corporal punishment.
  • The character combines 京 (capital) with 刀 (knife), suggesting official punishment.
  • Similar in meaning and usage to 黥, another character for tattooing criminals.

FAQ