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| 监狱 [2025/08/10 06:44] – created xiaoer | 监狱 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== jiānyù: 监狱 - Prison, Jail ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** 监狱, jianyu, Chinese for prison, Chinese for jail, what is jianyu, prison in China, Chinese law, Chinese crime, sentence to prison in Chinese, Chinese correctional facility, 看守所, zuolao. | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word for prison or jail, **监狱 (jiānyù)**. This comprehensive guide explores its core meaning, character origins, and significant cultural context within China's legal system. We'll differentiate **监狱 (jiānyù)** from a detention center (看守所), explain how it's used in modern conversation and media, and provide numerous example sentences to master its usage when discussing law, crime, and justice in Mandarin Chinese. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jiānyù | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A state-run facility where convicted criminals are confined to serve a sentence. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **监狱 (jiānyù)** is the direct and formal word for 'prison' in Mandarin. It specifically refers to a long-term correctional facility where people are incarcerated //after// being found guilty and sentenced for a crime. Think of it as the final destination in the legal process for more serious offenses, not a temporary holding cell. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **监 (jiān):** This character's original form depicted a person looking down into a basin of water, like a mirror. This evolved into the meaning "to look at," "to monitor," or "to supervise." In this context, it carries the meaning of supervision and confinement. | |
| * **狱 (yù):** This is a complex pictograph. It's composed of two dogs (犭, a variant of 犬) on either side of the character for speech (言). The image suggests guard dogs barking, or a heated dispute/litigation. It directly means "prison" or "lawsuit." | |
| * **Combined Meaning:** The characters combine to mean a "supervised prison" (监 + 狱). The meaning is very direct, emphasizing a place of confinement and official supervision for those who have broken the law. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, the concept of a **监狱 (jiānyù)** is deeply tied to ideas of punishment, state authority, and social order. It's not just a place of confinement but also a place for "reform." | |
| * **Reform Through Labor (劳动改造 - láodòng gǎizào):** Historically and culturally, the Chinese penal system has placed a strong emphasis on reform through structured labor. The belief is that hard work can help correct a criminal's thinking and make them a productive member of society upon release. This differs from the Western focus, which may lean more towards punitive measures or therapeutic rehabilitation. | |
| * **Social Stigma and "Face" (面子):** Being imprisoned, or **坐牢 (zuòláo)**, carries an enormous social stigma in China. It brings great shame (丢脸 - diūliǎn) not only to the individual but to their entire family. This loss of "face" (面子 - miànzi) can make it incredibly difficult for an ex-convict to find a job, get married, or reintegrate into their community. The collective nature of this shame is a key cultural distinction from the more individualistic perspective on crime and punishment in many Western societies. | |
| * **Prison vs. Detention Center:** A crucial distinction in the Chinese legal system is between a **监狱 (jiānyù)** and a **看守所 (kānshǒusuǒ)**. A **监狱** is for serving a sentence after conviction. A **看守所** is a pre-trial detention center where suspects are held during investigation and trial. This distinction is much stricter than the often-interchangeable use of "jail" and "prison" in American English. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **监狱 (jiānyù)** is a formal and official term. You will encounter it most often in the following contexts: | |
| * **News and Legal Documents:** It is the standard term used in news reports, court rulings, and any official discussion of the penal system. | |
| * **Formal Conversation:** When discussing crime or the justice system in a serious manner, **监狱** is the appropriate word. | |
| * **Metaphorical Use:** Like in English, it can be used metaphorically to describe any situation that feels highly restrictive and unpleasant. A student might complain their strict boarding school is a **监狱**, or an office worker might refer to their oppressive work environment in the same way. | |
| * **Informal Alternative:** In casual conversation, instead of saying "He is in a **监狱** (tā zài yī ge jiānyù)", it is far more common to use the verb phrase **坐牢 (zuòláo)**, which literally means "to sit prison." For example, "He is in prison" would be "他在坐牢 (tā zài zuòláo)." | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 他因为抢劫被判入**监狱**十年。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi qiǎngjié bèi pàn rù **jiānyù** shí nián. | |
| * English: He was sentenced to ten years in prison for robbery. | |
| * Analysis: This shows the formal usage of **监狱** in the context of a legal sentence. **被判 (bèi pàn)** means "to be sentenced." | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 那座**监狱**的安保措施非常严格。 | |
| * Pinyin: Nà zuò **jiānyù** de ānbǎo cuòshī fēicháng yángé. | |
| * English: The security measures at that prison are extremely strict. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **监狱** is used simply as a noun to refer to the physical place. **座 (zuò)** is the correct measure word for large buildings like a prison. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 对他来说，这个压抑的办公室就像一个**监狱**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Duì tā lái shuō, zhège yāyì de bàngōngshì jiù xiàng yī ge **jiānyù**. | |
| * English: For him, this oppressive office is just like a prison. | |
| * Analysis: A perfect example of the metaphorical use of **监狱** to describe a confining and unpleasant environment. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 他明年就能从**监狱**里出来了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā míngnián jiù néng cóng **jiānyù** lǐ chūlái le. | |
| * English: He will be able to get out of prison next year. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence demonstrates how to talk about being released from prison. **从...里出来 (cóng...lǐ chūlái)** means "to come out from..." | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 没有人愿意自己的孩子最终进入**监狱**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Méiyǒu rén yuànyì zìjǐ de háizi zuìzhōng jìnrù **jiānyù**. | |
| * English: No one wants their own child to end up in prison. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence highlights the strong negative connotation and the societal view of prison as a place of failure. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 这部电影真实地反映了**监狱**里的生活。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng zhēnshí de fǎnyìng le **jiānyù** lǐ de shēnghuó. | |
| * English: This movie realistically reflects life inside a prison. | |
| * Analysis: A common context where you might hear the word **监狱** is in discussions about media like films or books. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 政府宣布将关闭几所老旧的**监狱**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ xuānbù jiāng guānbì jǐ suǒ lǎojiù de **jiānyù**. | |
| * English: The government announced it will close several old prisons. | |
| * Analysis: **所 (suǒ)** is another common measure word for institutions like schools and prisons. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 许多人认为**监狱**的主要目的应该是改造而非惩罚。 | |
| * Pinyin: Xǔduō rén rènwéi **jiānyù** de zhǔyào mùdì yīnggāi shì gǎizào ér fēi chéngfá. | |
| * English: Many people believe the main purpose of prison should be rehabilitation rather than punishment. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence contrasts two key concepts related to prisons: **改造 (gǎizào - reform/rehabilitation)** and **惩罚 (chéngfá - punishment)**. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 越狱是一项重罪，会增加**监狱**的刑期。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yuèyù shì yī xiàng zhòngzuì, huì zēngjiā **jiānyù** de xíngqī. | |
| * English: Escaping prison is a serious crime and will increase the prison sentence. | |
| * Analysis: **越狱 (yuèyù)** literally means "to cross over the prison wall," i.e., to escape prison. **刑期 (xíngqī)** means the term of a sentence. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 在被送往**监狱**之前，他在看守所里待了六个月。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zài bèi sòng wǎng **jiānyù** zhīqián, tā zài kānshǒusuǒ lǐ dāi le liù ge yuè. | |
| * English: Before being sent to prison, he stayed in a detention center for six months. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence clearly illustrates the difference in function and timing between a **看守所 (kānshǒusuǒ)** and a **监狱 (jiānyù)**. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **Mistake 1: Confusing `监狱 (jiānyù)` with `看守所 (kānshǒusuǒ)`** | |
| * This is the most significant pitfall. In English, "jail" can refer to both pre-trial holding and short-term sentences. In Chinese, the distinction is clear. | |
| * **监狱 (jiānyù):** For convicted criminals serving a sentence (usually longer than one year). | |
| * **看守所 (kānshǒusuǒ):** A detention center for holding suspects //before// their trial and conviction. | |
| * Incorrect: 他还没被判刑，就被送到了监狱。(He was sent to prison before being sentenced.) | |
| * Correct: 他还没被判刑，被关在看守所里。(He is being held in a detention center before being sentenced.) | |
| * **Mistake 2: Using `监狱 (jiānyù)` as a verb.** | |
| * **监狱 (jiānyù)** is a noun (a place). The common action of "being in prison" is expressed with the verb-object phrase **坐牢 (zuòláo)**. | |
| * Incorrect: 他在监狱。(While grammatically okay, it's less natural than the alternative. It sounds like "He is physically located at the prison building.") | |
| * Correct (and more common): 他在坐牢。(He is serving a prison sentence.) | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[看守所]] (kānshǒusuǒ) - Detention Center; the facility for holding suspects before or during trial. Crucially different from a **监狱**. | |
| * [[坐牢]] (zuòláo) - To be in prison; the common verb phrase describing the state of incarceration. | |
| * [[犯人]] (fànrén) - Prisoner, inmate, convict; a general term for someone in prison. | |
| * [[罪犯]] (zuìfàn) - Criminal; a more formal term for a person who has committed a crime. | |
| * [[判刑]] (pànxíng) - To sentence (verb); the act of a judge imposing a criminal sentence. | |
| * [[法律]] (fǎlǜ) - Law; the system of rules that leads to someone being sent to **监狱**. | |
| * [[警察]] (jǐngchá) - Police; the law enforcement officers who arrest criminals. | |
| * [[释放]] (shìfàng) - To release, to set free; the formal term for when a prisoner's sentence is complete. | |
| * [[法官]] (fǎguān) - Judge; the legal official who presides over a trial and sentences criminals to **监狱**. | |
| * [[劳动改造]] (láodòng gǎizào) - Reform through labor; a key philosophical pillar of the Chinese correctional system. | |