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-====== zuì: 罪 - Sin, Crime, Guilt, Fault ======
-===== Quick Summary =====
-  * **Keywords:** zuì, 罪, what does zui mean, Chinese for crime, Chinese for sin, Chinese for guilt, Chinese character zui, 犯罪, 有罪, 认罪, Chinese law, Chinese culture
-  * **Summary:** The Chinese character **罪 (zuì)** is a powerful and fundamental concept representing a serious transgression. It encompasses the legal definition of a **crime**, the religious or moral weight of a **sin**, and the personal burden of **guilt** or **fault**. Understanding **罪 (zuì)** is key to grasping Chinese perspectives on law, order, and morality, as it appears in essential vocabulary like **犯罪 (fànzuì)**, "to commit a crime," and **有罪 (yǒu zuì)**, "to be guilty." This guide will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage for learners.
-===== Core Meaning =====
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zuì
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 (as part of words like 犯罪)
-  * **Concise Definition:** A violation of law, morality, or religious principle; a crime, sin, or fault.
-  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **罪 (zuì)** as the word for a serious "bad deed." It's not for small mistakes; it carries a heavy weight. Whether it's a formal crime prosecuted by the state, a deep moral failing, or a major fault you've committed, **罪** is the word used. It implies that a significant line has been crossed and that there are, or should be, consequences.
-===== Character Breakdown =====
-  * **罪 (zuì)** is a powerful phono-semantic compound character that tells a story:
-  * **罒 (wǎng):** The top part is a variant of **网 (wǎng)**, which means "net." This radical is often associated with nets, webs, or, in this case, the "net of the law."
-  * **非 (fēi):** The bottom part means "not," "wrong," "error," or "misdeed."
-  * The characters combine to form a vivid image: **catching a wrongdoing (非) in a net (罒)**. This perfectly illustrates the concept of a crime or sin being identified and captured by a system of law or morality.
-===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
-  * **罪 (zuì)** is deeply rooted in both the legal and moral fabric of Chinese culture, reflecting a historical emphasis on social order. The concept is heavily influenced by Legalism (法家), a school of thought that advocated for strict, clear laws and harsh punishments to control society. The character's structure itself—catching a wrong in a net—is a testament to this legalistic worldview.
-  * When compared to Western concepts, **罪 (zuì)** has important distinctions. The English word "sin" is overwhelmingly tied to the Judeo-Christian tradition of an offense against God. While **罪** can be used in a religious context in Chinese (e.g., in Buddhism or Christianity), its core meaning is more secular and social. Committing a **罪** is often seen as a transgression against the social order, the family, or the collective, leading to a loss of face and social standing.
-  * The feeling associated with **罪** is also nuanced. While it translates to "guilt," the internal feeling for a Chinese person might be closer to **羞耻 (xiūchǐ) - shame**. Western "guilt" is often a private, internal conflict with one's own conscience. Chinese "shame" is more public and relational; it's the feeling of being disgraced in the eyes of others. Therefore, a **罪** is not just a personal moral failure, but a social one.
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
-  * **罪** is a common and serious word in modern Chinese, used across several key contexts.
-  * **Formal Legal System:** This is its most frequent and literal usage. You will see it constantly in news reports about legal cases.
-    *   `犯罪 (fànzuì)`: to commit a crime
-    *   `罪犯 (zuìfàn)`: a criminal
-    *   `判罪 (pànzuì)`: to convict someone of a crime
-    *   `认罪 (rènzuì)`: to plead guilty
-  * **Moral and Personal Fault:** It's used to describe a serious moral failing or to express a deep sense of personal guilt.
-    *   `我感觉很有罪恶感 (wǒ gǎnjué hěn yǒu zuì'ègǎn)`: I feel a strong sense of guilt.
-    *   `这都是我的罪过 (zhè dōu shì wǒ de zuìguo)`: This is all my fault (said with a heavy, serious tone).
-  * **Figurative or Exaggerated Use:** In casual conversation, people sometimes use related terms like `罪过 (zuìguo)` or `受罪 (shòuzuì)` to exaggerate a minor fault or a difficult situation.
-    *   `哎呀，忘了你的生日，我真是罪过！(Āiyā, wàngle nǐ de shēngrì, wǒ zhēnshi zuìguo!)` - "Oh no, I forgot your birthday, I'm terrible!" (Literally: "what a sin!").
-    *   `每天挤地铁上班真是太受罪了。(Měitiān jǐ dìtiě shàngbān zhēnshi tài shòuzuì le.)` - "Squeezing onto the subway to get to work every day is such torture/suffering."
-===== Example Sentences =====
-  * **Example 1:**
-    * 他因为**盗窃罪**被逮捕了。
-    * Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi **dàoqièzuì** bèi dàibǔ le.
-    * English: He was arrested for the **crime of theft**.
-    * Analysis: This is a classic legal usage. **罪** is attached to a specific action (盗窃 - theft) to name the formal crime.
-  * **Example 2:**
-    * 法官宣布被告**有罪**。
-    * Pinyin: Fǎguān xuānbù bèigào **yǒu zuì**.
-    * English: The judge declared the defendant **guilty**.
-    * Analysis: **有罪 (yǒu zuì)**, literally "to have crime/guilt," is the standard term for "guilty" in a legal context. Its opposite is **无罪 (wú zuì)**, "not guilty."
-  * **Example 3:**
-    * 他对自己的过去充满了**罪恶感**。
-    * Pinyin: Tā duì zìjǐ de guòqù chōngmǎnle **zuì'ègǎn**.
-    * English: He is full of **guilt** about his past.
-    * Analysis: **罪恶感 (zuì'ègǎn)** specifically refers to the *feeling* of guilt. `感 (gǎn)` means "feeling" or "sense."
-  * **Example 4:**
-    * 在巨大的压力下，**罪犯**最终选择了**认罪**。
-    * Pinyin: Zài jùdà de yālì xià, **zuìfàn** zuìzhōng xuǎnzéle **rènzuì**.
-    * English: Under immense pressure, the **criminal** finally chose to **plead guilty**.
-    * Analysis: This sentence uses two related terms. **罪犯 (zuìfàn)** is the person ("criminal"), and **认罪 (rènzuì)** is the action of confessing ("recognize guilt").
-  * **Example 5:**
-    * 让你等了这么久，真是**罪过**，**罪过**。
-    * Pinyin: Ràng nǐ děngle zhème jiǔ, zhēnshi **zuìguo**, **zuìguo**.
-    * English: Making you wait for so long, it's my fault, my fault.
-    * Analysis: **罪过 (zuìguo)** is a slightly less formal and less severe term than **罪**. It means "fault" or "transgression" and is often used in apologies for social errors, though it still sounds quite serious or dramatic.
-  * **Example 6:**
-    * 大热天停电，真是让大家**受罪**。
-    * Pinyin: Dà rètiān tíngdiàn, zhēnshi ràng dàjiā **shòuzuì**.
-    * English: The power outage on such a hot day is really making everyone **suffer**.
-    * Analysis: **受罪 (shòuzuì)** literally means "to receive crime/punishment," but it's used colloquially to mean "to endure hardship" or "to suffer." It has nothing to do with an actual crime.
-  * **Example 7:**
-    * 无论你犯了什么**罪**，都应该承担后果。
-    * Pinyin: Wúlùn nǐ fànle shénme **zuì**, dōu yīnggāi chéngdān hòuguǒ.
-    * English: No matter what **crime** you have committed, you should bear the consequences.
-    * Analysis: This sentence uses **罪** in its broad sense, covering any serious wrongdoing, legal or moral.
-  * **Example 8:**
-    * 他的**罪名**是故意伤害。
-    * Pinyin: Tā de **zuìmíng** shì gùyì shānghài.
-    * English: His **charge** is intentional assault.
-    * Analysis: **罪名 (zuìmíng)** means "charge" or "the name of the crime." It's another specific legal term.
-  * **Example 9:**
-    * 孩子，你说谎就是一种**罪**。
-    * Pinyin: Háizi, nǐ shuōhuǎng jiùshì yī zhǒng **zuì**.
-    * English: Child, telling lies is a kind of **sin**.
-    * Analysis: This shows a moral, educational usage. The speaker is elevating a misdeed (lying) to the level of **罪** to emphasize its seriousness to a child.
-  * **Example 10:**
-    * 他被判处无期徒刑，为自己的**罪行**付出了代价。
-    * Pinyin: Tā bèi pànchǔ wúqī túxíng, wèi zìjǐ de **zuìxíng** fùchūle dàijià.
-    * English: He was sentenced to life in prison, paying the price for his **criminal acts**.
-    * Analysis: **罪行 (zuìxíng)** refers to the criminal act or behavior itself. It's a formal way to talk about the deeds that constitute a crime.
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
-  * **The Biggest Mistake: Confusing 罪 (zuì) and 错 (cuò)**
-    *   This is the most critical distinction for a learner. **错 (cuò)** means "mistake, error, wrong." It's for everyday slip-ups. **罪 (zuì)** means "crime, sin." It is for serious, punishable offenses.
-    *   **Correct:** 我错了，我不该迟到。(Wǒ cuò le, wǒ bù gāi chídào.) - "I was wrong, I shouldn't have been late."
-    *   **Incorrect & Overly Dramatic:** 我有罪，我不该迟到。(Wǒ yǒu zuì, wǒ bù gāi chídào.) - "I am guilty, I shouldn't have been late." This sounds like you're confessing to a felony in a courtroom, not apologizing for tardiness.
-    *   **Rule of Thumb:** If it's a simple mistake, use **错 (cuò)**. If it could land you in jail or is a profound moral violation, use **罪 (zuì)**.
-  * **Guilt vs. Shame:** Remember that the feeling behind admitting a **罪** in Chinese culture often has a strong component of social **shame (羞耻)**. It's not just about your internal moral compass; it's about how your actions reflect on you, your family, and your social standing.
-  * **Not a Verb:** **罪** itself is a noun. To say "commit a crime," you must use the verb-object phrase **犯罪 (fànzuì)**. You cannot say "我罪了 (wǒ zuì le)."
-===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
-  * [[犯罪]] (fànzuì) - A verb-object phrase meaning "to commit a crime." This is the action.
-  * [[罪犯]] (zuìfàn) - The noun for "criminal" or "convict." This is the person.
-  * [[无罪]] (wúzuì) - The direct antonym, meaning "innocent" or "not guilty."
-  * [[认罪]] (rènzuì) - A verb meaning "to confess" or "to plead guilty."
-  * [[受罪]] (shòuzuì) - A common colloquial term meaning "to suffer" or "to endure hardship."
-  * [[罪恶感]] (zuì'ègǎn) - A noun meaning "a sense of guilt" or "guilt-ridden feeling."
-  * [[错误]] (cuòwù) - A common and more formal word for "mistake" or "error." A key term to contrast with the severity of **罪**.
-  * [[过错]] (guòcuò) - A noun for "fault" or "transgression." It's more serious than a simple **错误** but generally less severe than a **罪**.
-  * [[惩罚]] (chéngfá) - To punish; a penalty. This is the consequence of a **罪**.
-  * [[功劳]] (gōngláo) - Merit, credit, contribution. Can be seen as an antonym in the sense of doing good deeds versus committing bad ones.