罪 (zuì) — crime (legal offense); guilt; fault; blame; sin (religious or moral transgression)

Definition

罪 (zuì) is the broad 'crime/guilt/sin' noun — pairs with 犯 (fàn, 'to commit') in the verb phrase 犯罪. For everyday 'mistake/fault', 过错 is more natural.

noun
crime (legal offense)guiltfaultblamesin (religious or moral transgression)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 罪。
    Fǎ lǜ bú fàng guò rèn hé zuì.
    The law will not let any crime go unpunished.
  • 罪。
    Tā yīn wèi zì jǐ de zuì ér gǎn dào hòu huǐ.
    He felt regret because of his guilt.
  • 罪。
    Bú yào zǒng bǎ zuì tuī gěi bié rén.
    Don't always shift the blame onto others.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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

罪 puts 罒 (a net, written fully as 网) over 非 (mistake).

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Crime & Police2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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