zuòláo: 坐牢 - To be in prison, To serve a sentence

• Keywords: zuolao, zuò láo, 坐牢, go to jail in Chinese, be in prison Chinese, serve a sentence Chinese, Chinese word for prison, what does zuolao mean, imprisonment in China, Chinese legal terms.
• Summary: Learn how to say 'go to jail' or 'be in prison' in Chinese with the essential term 坐牢 (zuò láo). This comprehensive guide breaks down what zuolao means, its cultural significance, and how to use it in real-life conversations. Discover the difference between 坐牢 and other legal terms and understand the deep cultural implications of imprisonment in China. This is a must-know term for understanding Chinese law, society, and media.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuò láo
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be imprisoned or serve time in jail.
• In a Nutshell: Literally meaning “sit prison,” 坐牢 (zuò láo) is the most common, everyday term for being incarcerated. It's less formal than legal jargon and is used widely in news reports, movies, and daily conversations to describe the state of being locked up as punishment for a crime. It captures the complete experience of serving a sentence, not just the act of being arrested.

• 坐 (zuò): The primary meaning of this character is “to sit.” It can also suggest a state of being or a mode of transport (e.g., 坐车 - to ride in a car). In this context, it implies a prolonged, static state of being confined within a specific place.
• 牢 (láo): This character means “prison,” “jail,” or “pen.” Its radicals (component parts) can be seen as a “roof” (宀) over a “cow” (牛), originally suggesting an enclosure for livestock. Over time, its meaning evolved to signify a place of confinement for humans—a prison.

Together, 坐牢 (zuò láo) creates the vivid and literal image of “sitting in prison.” This simple yet powerful phrase effectively communicates the core idea of confinement and serving time.

In Chinese culture, imprisonment carries an immense social stigma that extends beyond the individual. The concept of 面子 (miànzi) - “face” or social standing is paramount. When a person is sent to prison, it is not just their personal failure; it brings great shame and loss of face to their entire family. The act is seen as a serious disruption of social harmony and a failure to fulfill one's duties to family and society.

• Comparison to Western Culture: While incarceration is stigmatized everywhere, the emphasis in the West is often placed more on individual accountability, rehabilitation, or punishment. In China, the collective impact on the family's reputation, social connections (关系 - guānxi), and future prospects (for the individual and their relatives) can be more profound and long-lasting. A criminal record can severely hinder one's ability to find a good job, a spouse, or be a trusted member of the community long after the sentence is served. This reflects a cultural value system that prioritizes the group over the individual and social order above all else.

坐牢 is a very practical and frequently used term. It's direct but not considered overly harsh or vulgar.

• In Conversation: People use it when discussing news, gossiping about acquaintances, or talking about characters in a TV show.
• In News and Media: It's standard vocabulary in news headlines and reports about criminal cases.
• Figurative Meaning: In informal contexts, people sometimes use 坐牢 hyperbolically to describe any situation that feels extremely restrictive, boring, or oppressive.
  • *Example:* “我每天工作12个小时，感觉就像在坐牢。” (Wǒ měitiān gōngzuò shí'èr ge xiǎoshí, gǎnjué jiù xiàng zài zuò láo.) - “I work 12 hours a day; it feels like being in prison.”

• Example 1:
  • 他因为诈骗罪正在坐牢。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi zhàpiàn zuì zhèngzài zuò láo.
  • English: He is currently in prison for fraud.
  • Analysis: A straightforward statement of fact. 正在 (zhèngzài) indicates the action is ongoing.
• Example 2:
  • 如果他被判有罪，他可能要坐牢很多年。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ tā bèi pàn yǒuzuì, tā kěnéng yào zuò láo hěn duō nián.
  • English: If he is convicted, he might have to be in prison for many years.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows a potential future consequence, using 如果 (rúguǒ) for “if” and 可能 (kěnéng) for “might.”
• Example 3:
  • 那个小偷最终被抓住了，现在正在坐牢。
  • Pinyin: Nàge xiǎotōu zuìzhōng bèi zhuāzhù le, xiànzài zhèngzài zuò láo.
  • English: That thief was finally caught and is now serving time in prison.
  • Analysis: This example shows a sequence of events: getting caught (被抓住 le) and the current state (现在正在坐牢).
• Example 4:
  • 你觉得他应该为他的行为坐牢吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde tā yīnggāi wèi tā de xíngwéi zuò láo ma?
  • English: Do you think he should go to jail for his actions?
  • Analysis: A common way to form a question asking for an opinion using 觉得 (juéde) and the question particle 吗 (ma).
• Example 5:
  • 他不想让孩子们知道他们的父亲坐过牢。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùxiǎng ràng háizi men zhīdào tāmen de fùqīn zuò guo láo.
  • English: He doesn't want to let the children know their father has been to prison before.
  • Analysis: The particle 过 (guo) indicates a past experience. 坐过牢 (zuò guo láo) means “have been to prison before.”
• Example 6:
  • 这个工作太没意思了，每天来上班简直就像坐牢一样。
  • Pinyin: Zhège gōngzuò tài méi yìsi le, měitiān lái shàngbān jiǎnzhí jiù xiàng zuò láo yīyàng.
  • English: This job is so boring, coming to work every day is simply like being in prison.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the common figurative use. 简直…一样 (jiǎnzhí…yīyàng) means “simply just like…”
• Example 7:
  • 他被判坐牢二十年。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi pàn zuò láo èrshí nián.
  • English: He was sentenced to twenty years in prison.
  • Analysis: A very common and concise structure using 被判 (bèi pàn), “to be sentenced.”
• Example 8:
  • 坐牢的滋味肯定不好受。
  • Pinyin: Zuò láo de zīwèi kěndìng bù hǎoshòu.
  • English: The experience of being in prison is definitely not pleasant.
  • Analysis: 滋味 (zīwèi) means “taste” or “flavor,” used here to mean “feeling” or “experience.” 不好受 (bù hǎoshòu) means “unpleasant” or “hard to bear.”
• Example 9:
  • 为了不坐牢，他什么都愿意做。
  • Pinyin: Wèile bù zuò láo, tā shénme dōu yuànyì zuò.
  • English: In order to not go to jail, he is willing to do anything.
  • Analysis: 为了 (wèile) means “in order to.” This structure shows the motivation behind an action.
• Example 10:
  • 那位前市长因为腐败问题坐牢了。
  • Pinyin: Nà wèi qián shìzhǎng yīnwèi fǔbài wèntí zuò láo le.
  • English: That former mayor went to jail because of corruption issues.
  • Analysis: A typical example from a news context. 因为 (yīnwèi) gives the reason for the imprisonment.

• 坐牢 (zuò láo) vs. 被捕 (bèi bǔ): This is the most critical distinction for learners. 被捕 (bèi bǔ) means “to be arrested.” An arrest is the beginning of a legal process; it does not guarantee a prison sentence. 坐牢 is the final consequence after being tried and convicted.
  • Correct: 他被警察捕了，但最后因为证据不足被释放了，所以他没坐牢。 (Tā bèi jǐngchá bǔ le, dàn zuìhòu yīnwèi zhèngjù bùzú bèi shìfàng le, suǒyǐ tā méi zuò láo.) - He was arrested by the police, but was ultimately released due to insufficient evidence, so he didn't go to prison.
  • Incorrect: 他昨天坐牢了。(If you mean he was arrested yesterday). This is wrong because a trial and sentence don't happen in one day. You should say: 他昨天被捕了。
• 坐牢 (zuò láo) vs. 蹲监狱 (dūn jiānyù): These two are very close in meaning and often interchangeable. 蹲 (dūn) means “to squat,” which also evokes a strong sense of hardship and confinement. 蹲监狱 (dūn jiānyù) can feel slightly more colloquial or slang-like than 坐牢, but both are extremely common in spoken Chinese. You can use either in most informal and semi-formal contexts.
• Don't Over-Literalize “坐 (zuò)”: A beginner might see 坐 (zuò) and think it only refers to the physical act of sitting. Remember that 坐牢 is a set phrase—a “verb-object compound”—that functions as a single verb meaning “to be incarcerated.”

• 监狱 (jiānyù) - Prison, jail (the physical place). 坐牢 is the action, 监狱 is the location.
• 犯人 (fànrén) - Prisoner, convict (the person).
• 犯罪 (fànzuì) - To commit a crime (the verb for the illegal act).
• 逮捕 (dàibǔ) - To arrest. This is a more formal synonym for the action described by 被捕 (bèi bǔ).
• 判刑 (pànxíng) - To sentence (the legal verb for deciding the punishment).
• 释放 (shìfàng) - To release, to set free (the opposite of being imprisoned).
• 蹲监狱 (dūn jiānyù) - A very common synonym for 坐牢, meaning “to squat in prison.”
• 劳改 (láogǎi) - An abbreviation for 劳动改造 (láodòng gǎizào), “reform through labor.” This term has heavy historical and political connotations related to prison camps in China's past.
• 守法 (shǒufǎ) - To abide by the law; to be law-abiding. The conceptual opposite of the behavior that leads to 坐牢.