====== huìlù: 贿赂 - Bribery, Bribe ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** huìlù, 贿赂, bribe in Chinese, bribery in China, Chinese word for corruption, to bribe, business ethics in China, anti-corruption, 行贿, 受贿, Chinese legal terms, HSK 6 vocabulary.
  * **Summary:** Learn about the Chinese term **贿赂 (huìlù)**, the formal word for "bribery" or "to bribe." This page explores its meaning, cultural significance in contrast to gift-giving (送礼) and networking (关系), and its practical usage in legal, business, and media contexts in modern China. Discover how to use this important HSK 6 term correctly through numerous example sentences and analysis.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** huìlù
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** The act of giving or receiving a bribe; to bribe.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **贿赂 (huìlù)** is a serious and formal term that refers to the illegal act of giving money, valuables, or favors to someone in a position of power (like a government official or company executive) to influence their decisions or actions for personal gain. It carries a strong negative connotation and is central to discussions about corruption and law in China.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **贿 (huì):** This character is composed of the radical **贝 (bèi)**, which means "shell" and was used as currency in ancient China, and **有 (yǒu)**, which means "to have" or "to provide". Together, they suggest providing valuables or money.
  * **赂 (lù):** This character also contains the **贝 (bèi)** radical for money or valuables. It's combined with **各 (gè)**, meaning "each" or "every". This combination can be interpreted as distributing valuables to various parties to gain influence.
When combined, **贿赂 (huìlù)** literally means "to give valuables," but has evolved to exclusively mean doing so for a corrupt, illegal purpose—the act of bribery.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, the line between relationship-building through gift-giving and illegal bribery is critically important, yet can be confusing for outsiders. **贿赂 (huìlù)** is firmly on the illegal side of that line.
A key cultural comparison is between **贿赂 (huìlù)** and the concept of **[[关系]] (guānxi)**.
  * **关系 (guānxi)** is about building a long-term network of mutual obligation and trust. It often involves gift-giving (**送礼 sòng lǐ**) on holidays or special occasions as a sign of respect and to maintain the relationship. This is a normal part of social and business culture. For example, giving a client a box of mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival strengthens **guānxi**.
  * **贿赂 (huìlù)**, however, is transactional and corrupt. It is a //quid pro quo// exchange with a clear, often illegal, objective. For example, giving a government official a large sum of cash to approve a construction permit is **贿赂**.
While **guānxi** operates in a gray area of social norms, **huìlù** is a black-and-white legal issue. China's government has waged high-profile anti-corruption (**反腐 bài fǎn fǔ**) campaigns, making the act of **贿赂** a topic of immense public and legal significance. Understanding this distinction is vital for anyone doing business or living in China.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**贿赂 (huìlù)** is a formal word. You will most often encounter it in the following contexts:
  * **News and Media:** In reports about corruption, legal cases, and government scandals.
  * **Legal Documents:** In contracts, laws, and court proceedings.
  * **Business and Corporate Policy:** In company ethics guidelines and anti-bribery training.
  * **Formal Discussions:** When discussing ethics, law, or corruption.
It is **not** a casual word. For trivial situations, like trying to persuade a friend with a small treat, you would never use **贿赂**. In situations that are corrupt but discussed colloquially, people might use euphemisms like **塞红包 (sāi hóngbāo)**, "to stuff a red envelope," or **好处费 (hǎochù fèi)**, "advantage fee."
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 他因涉嫌**贿赂**政府官员而被捕。
    * Pinyin: Tā yīn shèxián **huìlù** zhèngfǔ guānyuán ér bèi bǔ.
    * English: He was arrested on suspicion of bribing government officials.
    * Analysis: A very common and formal usage, typical of a news report or legal statement. "涉嫌 (shèxián)" means "to be suspected of."
  * **Example 2:**
    * 我们公司的政策严禁任何形式的商业**贿赂**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de zhèngcè yánjìn rènhé xíngshì de shāngyè **huìlù**.
    * English: Our company's policy strictly prohibits any form of commercial bribery.
    * Analysis: This shows **贿赂** used as a noun in a formal business context. "商业贿赂 (shāngyè huìlù)" is the specific term for commercial bribery.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 行贿和受贿都是**贿赂**犯罪，将受到法律的严惩。
    * Pinyin: Xínghuì hé shòuhuì dōu shì **huìlù** fànzuì, jiāng shòudào fǎlǜ de yánchéng.
    * English: Both giving and accepting bribes are bribery crimes and will be severely punished by the law.
    * Analysis: This sentence introduces two key related terms: [[行贿]] (xínghuì - to give a bribe) and [[受贿]] (shòuhuì - to receive a bribe). **贿赂** is used here as a general category of crime.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 为了拿到那个合同，他试图**贿赂**项目经理。
    * Pinyin: Wèile ná dào nàge hétóng, tā shìtú **huìlù** xiàngmù jīnglǐ.
    * English: In order to get that contract, he attempted to bribe the project manager.
    * Analysis: Here, **贿赂** is used as a verb, "to bribe." "试图 (shìtú)" means "to attempt."
  * **Example 5:**
    * 这起**贿赂**案牵涉到多名高级官员。
    * Pinyin: Zhè qǐ **huìlù** àn qiānshè dào duō míng gāojí guānyuán.
    * English: This bribery case involves several high-ranking officials.
    * Analysis: "贿赂案 (huìlù àn)" means "bribery case," a common collocation in legal and news contexts.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 他拒绝用**贿赂**的方式来解决问题。
    * Pinyin: Tā jùjué yòng **huìlù** de fāngshì lái jiějué wèntí.
    * English: He refused to use bribery as a way to solve the problem.
    * Analysis: This sentence frames **贿赂** as a "method" or "way" (方式), highlighting a moral choice.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 这笔钱到底是合法的佣金还是非法的**贿赂**？
    * Pinyin: Zhè bǐ qián dàodǐ shì héfǎ de yōngjīn háishì fēifǎ de **huìlù**?
    * English: Is this sum of money a legal commission or an illegal bribe?
    * Analysis: This sentence effectively contrasts a legitimate payment (佣金 - yōngjīn) with a bribe, showing the importance of legal distinctions.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 防止和惩治**贿赂**是维护市场公平的关键。
    * Pinyin: Fángzhǐ hé chéngzhì **huìlù** shì wéihù shìchǎng gōngpíng de guānjiàn.
    * English: Preventing and punishing bribery is key to maintaining market fairness.
    * Analysis: This is a formal, almost academic sentence about the societal function of combating bribery.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 调查人员正在寻找他收受**贿赂**的证据。
    * Pinyin: Diàochá rényuán zhèngzài xúnzhǎo tā shōushòu **huìlù** de zhèngjù.
    * English: The investigators are searching for evidence that he accepted bribes.
    * Analysis: "收受贿赂 (shōushòu huìlù)" is a formal way of saying "to accept/receive bribes," synonymous with [[受贿]].
  * **Example 10:**
    * 在古代，向官员**贿赂**是常见的潜规则之一。
    * Pinyin: Zài gǔdài, xiàng guānyuán **huìlù** shì chángjiàn de qián guīzé zhī yī.
    * English: In ancient times, bribing officials was one of the common unspoken rules.
    * Analysis: This example uses **贿赂** in a historical context and connects it to the modern concept of [[潜规则]] (qián guīzé) or "unspoken rules."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Mistake:** Confusing **贿赂 (huìlù)** with general gift-giving (**送礼 sòng lǐ**). This is the most common pitfall for learners. **贿赂** is always illegal and implies a corrupt intent to gain an unfair advantage. Gift-giving is a social custom.
    * **Correct:** 过年给老板送一盒茶叶是**送礼**。(Guònián gěi lǎobǎn sòng yī hé cháyè shì **sòng lǐ**.) - Giving the boss a box of tea for the New Year is **giving a gift**.
    * **Incorrect:** ~~过年给老板送一盒茶叶是**贿赂**。~~ (This implies you are bribing your boss with tea for a corrupt purpose, which is an exaggeration unless the "tea" is a disguise for something far more valuable).
    * **Correct:** 为了升职给老板一辆车是**贿赂**。(Wèile shēngzhí gěi lǎobǎn yī liàng chē shì **huìlù**.) - Giving the boss a car for a promotion is **bribery**.
  * **Mistake:** Using **贿赂 (huìlù)** in casual, joking situations. In English, you might say, "I'll bribe you with pizza to help me move." In Chinese, using **贿赂** would sound overly serious and strange. Instead, you would just say something like: "你帮我搬家，我请你吃比萨。" (Nǐ bāng wǒ bānjiā, wǒ qǐng nǐ chī bǐsà. - If you help me move, I'll treat you to pizza.)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[腐败]] (fǔbài) - Corruption. The general, overarching concept of which bribery is a major part.
  * [[贪污]] (tānwū) - Embezzlement; graft. Specifically refers to the misappropriation of public or company funds by someone in a position of trust. Often goes hand-in-hand with bribery.
  * [[行贿]] (xínghuì) - The specific legal term for the act of *giving* a bribe (verb).
  * [[受贿]] (shòuhuì) - The specific legal term for the act of *receiving* a bribe (verb).
  * [[回扣]] (huíkòu) - A kickback. A specific form of bribery where a portion of a payment is returned to a person who facilitated the transaction.
  * [[关系]] (guānxi) - Social networks; connections. A key cultural concept that is about building relationships, which must be distinguished from the illegal act of **贿赂**.
  * [[送礼]] (sòng lǐ) - To give a gift. A socially acceptable practice that can, in some contexts, be a euphemism for a bribe, but is not inherently corrupt.
  * [[红包]] (hóngbāo) - Red envelope (containing money). Can be a legitimate gift (e.g., at weddings, Chinese New Year) or a vehicle for a bribe. Context is everything.
  * [[潜规则]] (qián guīzé) - "Unspoken rules." The set of unwritten, unofficial rules and procedures that are often necessary to get things done, which may sometimes involve bribery.
  * [[好处费]] (hǎochù fèi) - Literally "advantage fee." A colloquial term for a bribe or a "facilitation payment."