zuì'è: 罪恶 - Sin, Evil, Crime

• Keywords: zuì'è, 罪恶, sin in Chinese, evil in Chinese, crime in Chinese, Chinese word for evil, Chinese word for sin, zuì'è meaning, what is zuì'è, 罪 vs 恶, Chinese moral concepts
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 罪恶 (zuì'è), a powerful Chinese term for sin, evil, and grave crime. This page breaks down the characters 罪 (crime) and 恶 (evil) to reveal their combined force. Learn how zuì'è is used in cultural, legal, and historical contexts, distinguishing it from simple “badness” and comparing it to the Western concept of “sin.” With practical examples and nuance analysis, this guide is essential for any learner wanting to grasp the profound moral weight of this advanced HSK 6 word.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuì'è
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: A grave sin, a serious crime, or a profound evil.
• In a Nutshell: 罪恶 (zuì'è) is a heavy, formal word that you won't use for everyday mistakes. It describes wrongdoing that is legally criminal, morally reprehensible, or both. Think of it as the intersection of “crime” and “wickedness.” While an English speaker might talk about the “evil” of traffic, `罪恶` is reserved for things like war, genocide, or major criminal conspiracies. It carries a strong sense of judgment and severity.

• 罪 (zuì): This character signifies a “crime,” “offense,” or “guilt.” Its ancient form depicted a net (网) over a stylized representation of “wrong” (非), suggesting the act of being caught for a transgression. It points to an act that is punishable by law or social code.
• 恶 (è): This character means “evil,” “wicked,” “vicious,” or “fierce.” It represents the moral quality of an action or person, pointing to its malicious and harmful nature. (Note: This character can also be pronounced `wù` to mean “to loathe” or “dislike”).
• How they combine: The combination of 罪 (zuì) and 恶 (è) creates a word that is stronger than either part alone. It's not just a crime (`罪`); it's a crime that is fundamentally evil (`恶`). It's not just an evil thought (`恶`); it's an evil act that constitutes a crime or a grave sin (`罪`). This fusion makes `罪恶` a term for the most profound level of wrongdoing.

• Secular vs. Religious “Sin”: While `罪恶` is the best translation for the religious concept of “sin,” it's crucial to understand its broader, often secular, usage in Chinese culture. In the West, “sin” is fundamentally a transgression against God's law. `罪恶`, however, is often framed as a transgression against social order, natural law (天理, tiānlǐ), or fundamental human morality. An act can be a `罪恶` because of the immense harm it causes to society, even without invoking a specific deity.
• Buddhist Influence: The concept is also deeply colored by Buddhist thought, where `罪恶` refers to evil deeds that create negative karma (业, yè) and lead to suffering in this life or the next. In this context, `罪恶` is something to be cleansed or atoned for to escape the cycle of suffering.
• Comparison to Western “Evil”: `罪恶` can be compared to the concept of “a great evil” or “an atrocity.” If you are discussing historical events like the Holocaust or the Nanjing Massacre, `罪恶` is the appropriate term to describe the nature of those events (`历史的罪恶` - the evils of history). It captures both the criminality and the profound immorality of the acts. It's less about a metaphysical force of Evil and more about the concrete, horrific actions perpetrated by humans.

• Formality: Highly formal and literary. It is not used in casual conversation for minor issues.
• Connotation: Exclusively negative and carries a heavy, serious tone.
• Legal and Historical Context:

You will most often encounter `罪恶` in writing or formal speeches discussing law, justice, history, and social criticism. For example, a news report might talk about a `罪恶的交易` (a criminal/evil transaction) or a documentary might explore the `战争的罪恶` (the evils of war).

• Moral and Psychological Context:

The term is also used to describe a deep, personal sense of guilt over a serious transgression. The term `罪恶感 (zuì'è gǎn)` means “a sense of guilt/sinfulness” and is much stronger than feeling sorry for a small mistake. It implies a burden on one's conscience.

• Example 1:
  • 战争充满了罪恶与痛苦。
  • Pinyin: Zhànzhēng chōngmǎnle zuì'è yǔ tòngkǔ.
  • English: War is full of sin and suffering.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, almost philosophical use of `罪恶` to describe the fundamental nature of war as a profoundly immoral and destructive event.
• Example 2:
  • 他的心中充满了深深的罪恶感。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xīnzhōng chōngmǎnle shēnshēn de zuì'è gǎn.
  • English: His heart was filled with a deep sense of guilt.
  • Analysis: Here, `罪恶感` (sense of guilt) is used. The addition of `感` (gǎn - feeling) turns the concept of `罪恶` into a personal psychological burden. The adjective `深深的` (shēnshēn de - deep) emphasizes its intensity.
• Example 3:
  • 我们必须与一切罪恶势力作斗争。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū yǔ yīqiè zuì'è shìlì zuò dòuzhēng.
  • English: We must fight against all evil forces.
  • Analysis: This sentence has a strong, righteous tone, often found in political or social justice contexts. `罪恶势力` (zuì'è shìlì) means “evil forces” or “criminal powers.”
• Example 4:
  • 贩卖人口是一种滔天罪恶。
  • Pinyin: Fànmài rénkǒu shì yī zhǒng tāotiān zuì'è.
  • English: Human trafficking is a monstrous crime.
  • Analysis: The idiom `滔天罪恶` (tāotiān zuì'è) literally means “sin/crime that reaches the heavens.” It's used to describe the most heinous and unforgivable crimes.
• Example 5:
  • 这座城市曾是罪恶的渊薮。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zuò chéngshì céng shì zuì'è de yuānsǒu.
  • English: This city was once a den of iniquity.
  • Analysis: This is a very literary and formal expression. `渊薮` (yuānsǒu) means “abyss and marsh,” a metaphor for a gathering place or source of something bad. A `罪恶的渊薮` is a “cesspool of crime and evil.”
• Example 6:
  • 在神父面前，他忏悔了自己的罪恶。
  • Pinyin: Zài shénfù miànqián, tā chànhuǐle zìjǐ de zuì'è.
  • English: He confessed his sins before the priest.
  • Analysis: This is a direct use of `罪恶` in a religious context, equivalent to “sins.” `忏悔` (chànhuǐ) means “to confess/repent.”
• Example 7:
  • 贫穷和无知是滋生罪恶的温床。
  • Pinyin: Pínqióng hé wúzhī shì zīshēng zuì'è de wēnchuáng.
  • English: Poverty and ignorance are the breeding grounds for crime and evil.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `罪恶` in a sociological context. `温床` (wēnchuáng) literally means “hotbed” and is a common metaphor for a place where negative things grow.
• Example 8:
  • 他的行为揭示了人性深处的罪恶。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xíngwéi jiēshìle rénxìng shēnchù de zuì'è.
  • English: His actions revealed the evil deep within human nature.
  • Analysis: A philosophical use of the word, exploring the concept of `罪恶` as a potential part of `人性` (rénxìng - human nature).
• Example 9:
  • 他无法摆脱背叛朋友的罪恶感。
  • Pinyin: Tā wúfǎ bǎituō bèipàn péngyǒu de zuì'è gǎn.
  • English: He could not escape the feeling of guilt for betraying his friend.
  • Analysis: This shows that `罪恶感` isn't limited to legal crimes. A profound moral failure like betrayal can also induce this strong feeling.
• Example 10:
  • 法律的目的是惩罚罪恶，保护善良。
  • Pinyin: Fǎlǜ de mùdì shì chéngfá zuì'è, bǎohù shànliáng.
  • English: The purpose of the law is to punish evil and protect the good.
  • Analysis: A clear and formal sentence stating the function of law, contrasting `罪恶` (evil) directly with `善良` (shànliáng - goodness/kindness).

• `罪恶` (zuì'è) vs. `犯罪` (fànzuì): Don't mix the noun with the verb.
  • `罪恶` is a noun: “sin, evil, crime.” It is a *thing* or a *concept*.
  • `犯罪` is a verb-object phrase: `犯(fàn)` means “to commit” and `罪(zuì)` means “crime.” Together, `犯罪` means “to commit a crime.”
  • Correct: 他犯了罪 (Tā fànle zuì - He committed a crime). His action was a `罪恶`.
  • Incorrect: 他罪恶了 (Tā zuì'èle). This is grammatically wrong as you cannot use `罪恶` as a verb.
• `罪恶` (zuì'è) vs. `坏` (huài): Don't overstate your case.
  • `坏 (huài)` means “bad.” It's an everyday word. A movie can be bad (`很坏`), food can go bad (`放坏了`), and a person can be a bad person (`坏人`).
  • `罪恶` is for profound, serious evil. A child who steals a cookie is `坏`, not `罪恶`. A dictator who orchestrates a genocide is `罪恶`.
  • Incorrect Usage: 我忘了做作业，我感觉很罪恶。 (Wǒ wàngle zuò zuòyè, wǒ gǎnjué hěn zuì'è.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is massive overkill. Forgetting homework is a minor mistake.
  • Correct Alternative: 我忘了做作业，我感觉很内疚 (nèijiù) / 很不好意思 (bùhǎo yìsi). (I forgot my homework, I feel very guilty / embarrassed.)

• 犯罪 (fànzuì) - The verb meaning “to commit a crime.” It refers to the action, whereas `罪恶` refers to the evil nature of the action or the concept itself.
• 罪犯 (zuìfàn) - A noun meaning “criminal,” the person who commits a crime (`犯罪`).
• 邪恶 (xié'è) - A close synonym for “evil” or “wicked.” `邪恶` often carries a more sinister, malicious, or even supernatural connotation, while `罪恶` is more grounded in crime and moral transgression.
• 罪恶感 (zuì'è gǎn) - A noun for the “feeling of guilt” or “sense of sin.” This is the internal, psychological experience of `罪恶`.
• 内疚 (nèijiù) - A lighter form of guilt or compunction. You feel `内疚` for letting a friend down; you feel `罪恶感` for a major betrayal or crime.
• 过错 (guòcuò) - A general noun for a “fault,” “mistake,” or “error.” It lacks the severe moral judgment of `罪恶`. Spilling coffee is a `过错`, not a `罪恶`.
• 恶 (è) - The standalone character for “evil,” often used in direct opposition to `善` (shàn - good), as in `善有善报，恶有恶报` (good is rewarded with good, evil is rewarded with evil).
• 罪 (zuì) - The standalone character for “crime” or “guilt.” It's the root of words like `有罪` (yǒuzuì - to be guilty) and `无罪` (wúzuì - to be innocent).