以身试法 (yǐ shēn shì fǎ) — to personally defy the law; to knowingly break the law and risk punishment

Definition

Idiom meaning 'to defy the law in person' — knowingly break a rule and accept the consequences. Often used as a warning that no one is above the law.

idiom
to personally defy the lawto knowingly break the law and risk punishment

Examples

  • 以身试法，。
    Rèn hé rén dōu bù néng yǐ shēn shì fǎ, fǒu zé bì jiāng shòu dào yán chéng.
    No one can defy the law; otherwise they will be severely punished.
  • ，以身试法。
    Tā míng zhī tān wū shì fàn zuì, què réng rán yǐ shēn shì fǎ.
    He knew embezzlement was a crime, yet he still defied the law.
  • ，以身试法。
    Fǎ lǜ miàn qián rén rén píng děng, bú yào xīn cún jiǎo xìng qù yǐ shēn shì fǎ.
    Everyone is equal before the law; don't take chances and defy it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

以身with body
以yǐuse身shēnbody
动宾Verb + object
试法test the law
试shìtest法fǎlaw
动宾Verb + object

“以身” (with body) and “试法” (test the law) combine as risking punishment by breaking law.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 身 comes from a drawing of a pregnant woman.

Open 身 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 試; 试 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
式
式shì試shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 試 puts 言 beside 式, and 式 gives the sound; the simplified 试 is the form of this character.

Open 试 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →

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