pànjué: 判决 - Judgment, Verdict, Sentence

• Keywords: 判决, panjue, Chinese court verdict, Chinese legal judgment, Chinese sentence, 法院判决, 判决书, legal Chinese, meaning of panjue, how to use 判决, Chinese law terms
• Summary: Learn the meaning and use of 判决 (pànjué), a core term in the Chinese legal system. This page explains what 判决 is—a court's formal judgment, verdict, or sentence—and how it differs from a simple “decision.” Discover its cultural weight, see practical example sentences, and understand how to use this important HSK 6 word correctly when discussing legal matters in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): pànjué
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: 6
• Concise Definition: A court of law's formal judgment, verdict, or sentence.
• In a Nutshell: 判决 (pànjué) is the official, final decision handed down by a judge or court at the end of a legal trial. It's a heavy, formal word that signifies the conclusion of a legal dispute and carries the full authority of the state. Think of a judge striking a gavel and announcing the outcome of a case—that's a 判决. It's not a word you use for everyday choices, but one reserved for the serious business of the justice system.

• 判 (pàn): This character is composed of 半 (bàn), meaning “half,” and the radical for knife (刂). The original imagery is of using a knife to split something in two, which extends to the meaning of “to distinguish,” “to discern,” or “to judge” between two sides (e.g., right and wrong).
• 决 (jué): This character means “to decide” or “to determine.” The water radical (氵) on the left hints at its original meaning, which related to a bursting dike—a decisive, powerful, and irreversible event.
• Together, 判 (to judge) + 决 (to decide) creates 判决 (pànjué), a “decisive judgment.” The combination powerfully conveys the finality and authority of a court's ruling.

In China, the legal system is seen as a direct extension of state authority. Therefore, a 判决 (pànjué) is not just a resolution between two parties; it is a declaration from the state itself. It carries immense weight and is generally expected to be respected as the final word on a matter. A useful comparison for Western learners is the difference in the role of a jury. In the American legal system, a “verdict” is often delivered by a jury of one's peers, reflecting a community-based judgment. In China, the 判决 is issued by a professional judge or a panel of judges, who represent the official legal apparatus of the country. This makes the concept of 判决 feel more top-down and authoritative. Furthermore, traditional Chinese culture often prioritizes harmony and mediation (调解 - tiáojiě) over direct confrontation. Taking a dispute to court is often seen as a last resort, a sign that relationships have completely broken down. Therefore, to reach the stage of a 判决 means the situation is extremely serious and a formal, binding resolution is unavoidable.

判决 (pànjué) is used almost exclusively in formal, legal contexts.

• In the News and Legal Documents: You will constantly see this word in news reports about court cases, legal analyses, and especially in the official document itself, the 判决书 (pànjué shū), or “written judgment.”
• As a Noun or Verb: It can function as a noun (“the verdict”) or a verb (“to rule” or “to sentence”).
  • Noun: 我们在等法院的判决。 (Wǒmen zài děng fǎyuàn de pànjué.) - We are waiting for the court's judgment.
  • Verb: 法官判决他有罪。 (Fǎguān pànjué tā yǒuzuì.) - The judge ruled him guilty.
• Formality: This term is highly formal. Using it for a non-legal decision would sound overly dramatic or even comical. For deciding what to eat, you would use 决定 (juédìng).

• Example 1:
  • 法院下达了最终判决。
  • Pinyin: Fǎyuàn xiàdá le zuìzhōng pànjué.
  • English: The court issued the final judgment.
  • Analysis: A very standard and common sentence you might read in the news. `下达 (xiàdá)` means “to issue” or “to release” a command or decision from a higher authority.
• Example 2:
  • 法官判决被告有罪。
  • Pinyin: Fǎguān pànjué bèigào yǒuzuì.
  • English: The judge ruled the defendant guilty.
  • Analysis: Here, 判决 is used as a verb meaning “to rule” or “to find (guilty/not guilty).”
• Example 3:
  • 他因盗窃罪被判决有期徒刑五年。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīn dàoqiè zuì bèi pànjué yǒuqī túxíng wǔ nián.
  • English: He was sentenced to five years in prison for theft.
  • Analysis: This shows 判决 being used specifically for sentencing. The `被 (bèi)` structure is common when describing the recipient of a sentence.
• Example 4:
  • 他对一审判决不服，决定上诉。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì yīshěn pànjué bùfú, juédìng shàngsù.
  • English: He was not satisfied with the first-instance verdict and decided to appeal.
  • Analysis: This introduces related legal concepts. `一审 (yīshěn)` is the first trial, and `上诉 (shàngsù)` is to appeal. `不服 (bùfú)` means to not accept or be convinced by something.
• Example 5:
  • 这起案件的判决结果引起了社会广泛关注。
  • Pinyin: Zhè qǐ ànjiàn de pànjué jiéguǒ yǐnqǐle shèhuì guǎngfàn guānzhù.
  • English: The outcome of the verdict in this case has attracted widespread public attention.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates how 判决 is often discussed in a broader societal context.
• Example 6:
  • 双方都接受了法院的判决。
  • Pinyin: Shuāngfāng dōu jiēshòu le fǎyuàn de pànjué.
  • English: Both parties accepted the court's judgment.
  • Analysis: `双方 (shuāngfāng)` means “both sides” or “both parties,” referring to the plaintiff and defendant.
• Example 7:
  • 你可以在网上找到这份判决书的全文。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ zài wǎngshàng zhǎodào zhè fèn pànjué shū de quánwén.
  • English: You can find the full text of this written judgment online.
  • Analysis: Highlights the related term 判决书 (pànjué shū), the official written document detailing the verdict.
• Example 8:
  • 法院判决该公司向消费者道歉并赔偿损失。
  • Pinyin: Fǎyuàn pànjué gāi gōngsī xiàng xiāofèizhě dàoqiàn bìng péicháng sǔnshī.
  • English: The court ordered the company to apologize to the consumers and compensate for the losses.
  • Analysis: Shows 判决 used as a verb for ordering specific actions in a civil case, not just determining guilt.
• Example 9:
  • 证据不足，法院无法做出判决。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngjù bùzú, fǎyuàn wúfǎ zuòchū pànjué.
  • English: Due to insufficient evidence, the court cannot make a judgment.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows a situation where a verdict cannot be reached. `做出判决 (zuòchū pànjué)` is a common collocation for “to make a judgment.”
• Example 10:
  • 维持原判决是二审法院的最终决定。
  • Pinyin: Wéichí yuán pànjué shì èrshěn fǎyuàn de zuìzhōng juédìng.
  • English: Upholding the original verdict was the final decision of the appellate court.
  • Analysis: A more advanced sentence. `维持原判 (wéichí yuán pàn)` is a set phrase meaning “to uphold the original verdict.” `二审 (èrshěn)` is the second trial or appeal.

• 判决 (pànjué) vs. 决定 (juédìng): This is the most critical distinction for learners. 决定 (juédìng) means “to decide” or “a decision” in a general sense. 判决 is strictly a legal judgment.
  • Correct: 我决定今天晚上吃米饭。(Wǒ juédìng jīntiān wǎnshàng chī mǐfàn.) - I decided to eat rice tonight.
  • Incorrect: 我判决今天晚上吃米饭。(Wǒ pànjué jīntiān wǎnshàng chī mǐfàn.) - This is wrong and sounds absurd, like you are a judge sentencing yourself to eat rice.
• 判决 (pànjué) vs. 审判 (shěnpàn): Don't confuse the result with the process.
  • 审判 (shěnpàn) is the trial itself—the entire process of hearing evidence and arguments in court.
  • 判决 (pànjué) is the *outcome* or *result* of the trial.
  • Analogy: The 审判 (trial) is the whole movie; the 判决 (verdict) is the ending.
• Not for Personal “Judgment”: In English, you can say “In my judgment, he is not trustworthy.” You cannot use 判决 this way. For a personal opinion or judgment, you would use words like 看法 (kànfǎ - point of view), 意见 (yìjiàn - opinion), or the verb 认为 (rènwéi - to think/believe).

• `法院 (fǎyuàn)` - Court. The institution that issues a 判决.
• `法官 (fǎguān)` - Judge. The person who makes the 判决.
• `审判 (shěnpàn)` - Trial. The legal process that leads to a 判决.
• `判决书 (pànjué shū)` - Written Judgment. The official document containing the 判决.
• `上诉 (shàngsù)` - To Appeal. The legal action taken when one disagrees with a 判决.
• `被告 (bèigào)` - Defendant. The party against whom a 判决 is sought.
• `原告 (yuángào)` - Plaintiff. The party who initiates a lawsuit seeking a favorable 判决.
• `定罪 (dìngzuì)` - To Convict / Conviction. A specific type of 判决 where guilt is formally established in a criminal case.
• `裁定 (cáidìng)` - Ruling. A court's decision on a procedural matter during a trial, as opposed to the final 判决 on the merits of the case.
• `律师 (lǜshī)` - Lawyer. The professional who argues on behalf of a client to achieve a certain 判决.