罪 (zuì) - Crime, sin, guilt, offense & fault, blame

罪Tone 4

zuì ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

志

罪 · zuì

Crime, sin, guilt, offense;

fault, blame;

suffering, hardship.

Crime, sin, guilt, offensefault, blamesuffering, hardship.

Usage highlights

Commit a crimeCriminalSin, faultGuilt, crimeCriminal lawConfess a crime

Synonyms

  • 犯— to violate, commit (a crime)
  • 恶— evil, wickedness
  • 过— fault, error

Antonyms

  • 功— merit, achievement
  • 德— virtue, moral excellence
  • 善— goodness, kindness

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was convicted of a serious crime (犯罪).
  • She confessed her sins (罪过).
  • The criminal was sentenced to prison (罪犯).
  • I apologize for my mistake (请罪).
  • They endured great suffering (受罪).

Collocations

  • Commit a crime(犯罪)
  • Criminal(罪犯)
  • Sin, fault(罪过)
  • Guilt, crime(罪行)
  • Criminal law(刑法)
  • Confess a crime(认罪)

Idioms

  • Guilty beyond description(罪大恶极)
  • Guilty of numerous crimes(罪孽深重)
  • Punishment fits the crime(罪有应得)
  • Confess and receive punishment(负荆请罪)
  • Add crime to crime(罪上加罪)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese law and morality, 罪 encompasses both legal crimes and moral transgressions.
  • The character combines 罒 (net) and 非 (wrong), symbolizing 'catching wrongdoing'.
  • In Buddhist context, 罪 refers to karma-producing actions that lead to suffering.
  • Historically used in imperial edicts for self-criticism, as in 罪己诏 (imperial self-accusation edict).

FAQ