临刑 (lín xíng) — on the eve of execution; just before a death sentence is carried out

Definition

Refers to the brief window right before a death sentence is carried out — the prisoner's final moments before execution. Pairs with 时 / 之前 in fixed-time phrases.

noun
on the eve of executionjust before a death sentence is carried out
Easily confused

Examples

  • 临刑，。
    lín xíng Zhī qián, tā xiě le yì fēng yí shū gěi jiā rén.
    Just before the execution, he wrote a farewell letter to his family.
  • ，临刑。
    Shǐ liào jì zǎi, nà wèi jiāng jūn lín xíng shí shén sè bù gǎi.
    Historical records note that the general showed no change in expression at the time of execution.
  • 临刑，。
    lín xíng, Fàn rén bèi yǔn xǔ chī le zuì hòu yí dùn fàn.
    Before the execution, the prisoner was allowed to eat one last meal.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

临línapproach
刑xíngpunishment

“临” (approach) and “刑” (punishment) combine to mean facing execution.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臨; 临 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 臨, 人 is a person, 臣 is an eye, and 品 is objects, showing a person looking down at objects.

Open 临 →

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
刀刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
井
井jǐng刑xíng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刑 puts 刀 (knife) beside 井. The knife part shows the punishment idea, and 井 gives the sound.

Open 刑 →

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