tānwū: 贪污 - Embezzlement, Corruption, Graft

• Keywords: tanwu Chinese, tanwu meaning, 贪污 meaning, Chinese word for corruption, embezzlement in Chinese, graft in Chinese, Chinese government corruption, how to say corruption in Chinese, tānwū, fǔbài, shòuhuì
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 贪污 (tānwū), a critical Chinese term for embezzlement, graft, and a specific type of corruption. This page breaks down the characters 贪 (greed) and 污 (dirty), explains its deep cultural significance in modern China's anti-corruption campaigns (打老虎 “beating tigers”), and shows you how to use it in practical sentences. We'll differentiate it from broader terms like `腐败 (fǔbài)` (general corruption) and `受贿 (shòuhuì)` (taking bribes) to help you understand the nuances of discussing crime and politics in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tānwū
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To embezzle public funds or accept bribes; the act of corruption or graft involving the misappropriation of assets.
• In a Nutshell: 贪污 (tānwū) is not just a general term for “corruption.” It specifically refers to the crime of someone in a position of trust (usually a public official or company manager) illegally taking money or property under their management for personal use. Think of it as “theft from the inside.” It carries a heavy, negative connotation of betrayal of public or corporate trust.

• 贪 (tān): This character means “greed” or “to be greedy.” It's composed of 今 (jīn - “now, the present”) over 贝 (bèi - “shell,” the ancient form of money). Pictorially, it represents a desire to have money now, which perfectly illustrates the concept of greed.
• 污 (wū): This means “dirty, filthy, polluted, or corrupt.” The left side is the water radical `氵(shuǐ)`, and the right side `于 (yū)` provides the sound. It evokes an image of dirty, stagnant water or a stain that corrupts something pure.
• Together, 贪污 (tānwū) literally translates to “greedy and dirty.” This powerful combination describes a corrupt act driven by greed that stains one's office and character.

贪污 (tānwū) is one of the most serious accusations in Chinese society and a central theme in modern Chinese politics. The Chinese government has waged massive, ongoing anti-corruption campaigns, famously summarized by the slogan 打老虎 (dǎ lǎohǔ), or “beating the tigers,” which refers to targeting high-level, powerful officials. News about officials being investigated for `贪污` is a constant feature in media. This focus has deep cultural roots. Historically, a dynasty's legitimacy, or “Mandate of Heaven” (天命 tiānmìng), was tied to its ability to govern justly and without corruption. A government plagued by `贪污` was seen as having lost this mandate. Today, while the imperial concept is gone, the underlying value remains: the government is expected to be clean and serve the people, and `贪污` is a profound betrayal of that expectation. Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, “corruption” is a very broad term. `贪污 (tānwū)` is much more specific, aligning closely with the legal concepts of “embezzlement” (stealing funds you manage) or “graft” (using public authority for personal gain). While all `贪污` is a form of `腐败 (fǔbài)` (the general term for corruption), not all `腐败` is `贪污`. For example, giving a job to your unqualified nephew (nepotism) is `腐败`, but it isn't `贪污` unless money was illegally pocketed in the process.

贪污 (tānwū) is a formal and very serious word. You will encounter it most often in the following contexts:

• News and Legal Reports: It's the standard term used in media when reporting on officials or executives being investigated for or charged with embezzlement.
• Political Discourse: Leaders use this term to signal their commitment to fighting corruption and maintaining a clean government.
• Serious Conversation: People use it when discussing specific news stories or expressing strong disapproval of an official's actions. It is not used lightly or in a joking manner.

Its connotation is exclusively negative and carries significant weight. Accusing someone of `贪污` is a grave matter.

• Example 1:
  • 那位官员因贪污问题正在接受调查。
  • Pinyin: Nà wèi guānyuán yīn tānwū wèntí zhèngzài jiēshòu diàochá.
  • English: That official is being investigated for issues of embezzlement.
  • Analysis: A very common and neutral-toned sentence you would read in a news report. `因…问题` means “due to the issue of…”.
• Example 2:
  • 政府决心要根除贪污腐败现象。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ juéxīn yào gēnchú tānwū fǔbài xiànxiàng.
  • English: The government is determined to eradicate the phenomenon of corruption and graft.
  • Analysis: Here, `贪污` is paired with `腐败` to form a common four-character phrase `贪污腐败`, which covers all forms of corruption. `根除` (gēnchú) means “to eradicate.”
• Example 3:
  • 他被指控贪污了数百万的公款。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi zhǐkòng tānwū le shù bǎi wàn de gōngkuǎn.
  • English: He was accused of embezzling millions in public funds.
  • Analysis: This shows `贪污` used as a verb. `公款` (gōngkuǎn) specifically means “public funds.”
• Example 4:
  • 贪污是一种严重的经济犯罪。
  • Pinyin: Tānwū shì yī zhǒng yánzhòng de jīngjì fànzuì.
  • English: Embezzlement is a serious economic crime.
  • Analysis: Here, `贪污` is used as a noun, representing the concept of the crime itself.
• Example 5:
  • 他因为贪污罪被判了十年有期徒刑。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi tānwū zuì bèi pànle shí nián yǒuqī túxíng.
  • English: He was sentenced to ten years in prison for the crime of embezzlement.
  • Analysis: `贪污罪` (tānwū zuì) is the specific legal name for the crime. `被判了` (bèi pànle) means “was sentenced to.”
• Example 6:
  • 打击贪污是每个公民的责任。
  • Pinyin: Dǎjī tānwū shì měi ge gōngmín de zérèn.
  • English: Fighting corruption is the responsibility of every citizen.
  • Analysis: `打击` (dǎjī) means “to strike” or “to combat,” often used in the context of crime or social problems.
• Example 7:
  • 这家公司的前任经理因贪污而入狱。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de qiánrèn jīnglǐ yīn tānwū ér rùyù.
  • English: The former manager of this company went to jail because of embezzlement.
  • Analysis: Shows that `贪污` isn't limited to government officials; it can apply to anyone in a position of financial trust.
• Example 8:
  • 任何形式的贪污行为都不能被容忍。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé xíngshì de tānwū xíngwéi dōu bùnéng bèi róngrěn.
  • English: Acts of embezzlement in any form cannot be tolerated.
  • Analysis: `行为` (xíngwéi) means “act” or “behavior.” This sentence has a very strong, formal tone.
• Example 9:
  • 他们的调查揭露了一个巨大的贪污网络。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de diàochá jiēlùle yī ge jùdà de tānwū wǎngluò.
  • English: Their investigation exposed a huge embezzlement network.
  • Analysis: This highlights how `贪污` can be part of a larger, organized criminal effort. `揭露` (jiēlù) means “to expose” or “to reveal.”
• Example 10:
  • 他一生廉洁，从不贪污。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīshēng liánjié, cóngbù tānwū.
  • English: He was honest and incorruptible his whole life and never embezzled.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the antonym `廉洁` (liánjié - honest/uncorrupted) to contrast with `贪污`. `从不` (cóngbù) means “never.”

• `贪污 (tānwū)` vs. `腐败 (fǔbài)`: This is the most common point of confusion.
  • `贪污 (tānwū)`: Specific. Embezzlement, graft. Illegally taking money/assets you control.
  • `腐败 (fǔbài)`: General. Corruption. A broad term for moral decay, abuse of power, bribery, nepotism, etc.
  • Rule of thumb: All `贪污` is `腐败`, but not all `腐败` is `贪污`. If money was stolen from the “inside,” it's `贪污`. If an official abused their power for other reasons, it's `腐败`.
• `贪污 (tānwū)` vs. `受贿 (shòuhuì)`:
  • `贪污 (tānwū)`: Taking. An official illegally takes money from public funds. The money is already under their control.
  • `受贿 (shòuhuì)`: Receiving. An official accepts money from someone else in exchange for a favor. This is “accepting a bribe.”
  • Example of incorrect usage: *那个商人贪污了官员 (Nàge shāngrén tānwū le guānyuán). This is wrong because a businessman can't embezzle an official. He can bribe (`贿赂 huìlù`) him. The official can accept the bribe (`受贿 shòuhuì`) or embezzle (`贪污`) public funds.
• “Greed” is not “Embezzlement”: Don't confuse the character `贪 (tān - greed)` with the crime `贪污`. A person can be greedy (`贪心 tān xīn`) without committing a crime. `贪污` is the specific criminal *act* of embezzlement that results from greed.

• 腐败 (fǔbài) - The general, all-encompassing term for “corruption.” `贪污` is a major type of `腐败`.
• 受贿 (shòuhuì) - To accept a bribe. The crime of receiving money for a favor, as opposed to taking it directly.
• 行贿 (xínghuì) - To offer a bribe. The other side of the transaction from `受贿`.
• 廉洁 (liánjié) - The direct antonym: honest, clean, incorruptible. A key quality expected of a good official.
• 挪用公款 (nuóyòng gōngkuǎn) - “To misappropriate public funds.” A very specific legal term that is a form of, or often used synonymously with, `贪污`.
• 以权谋私 (yǐ quán móu sī) - A chengyu (idiom) meaning “to use power for personal gain.” This is the underlying principle of all official corruption, including `贪污`.
• 打老虎 (dǎ lǎohǔ) - “To beat the tigers.” A popular slogan for China's high-profile anti-corruption campaign targeting senior “tiger” officials.
• 公款 (gōngkuǎn) - Public funds; the money that is often the target of `贪污`.