Definition
不法 (bù fǎ) is a formal, written adjective meaning 'illegal, lawless' — it typically modifies nouns like 行为 (behavior), 分子 (elements), or 交易 (transactions) in legal or official contexts. It is a near-synonym of 非法 (fēi fǎ), but 不法 is slightly more archaic and often used in fixed phrases (e.g., 不法分子), while 非法 is the standard modern word for 'unlawful' and pairs with a wider range of nouns. 违法 (wéi fǎ) is a verb meaning 'to break the law', not an adjective.
adjective
illegallawless
Easily confused
- 步伐bù fásound-alikepace, step (both literal and figurative)
- 不乏bù fásound-aliketo have no shortage of; there is no lack of
Examples
- 。Jǐngchá zhuā zhù le zhèxiē bù fǎ fènzǐ.The police caught these illegal elements.
- 不法。Rènhé bù fǎ xíngwéi dōu yīngdāng bèi zhǐzhǐ.Any illegal behavior should be stopped.
- 不法。Tā yīnwèi bù fǎ jiāoyì zuò le sān nián láo.He went to prison for three years because of illegal transactions.
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