gōngcí: 供词 - Confession, (Defendant's) Testimony

• Keywords: gōngcí, 供词, Chinese confession, Chinese testimony, legal Chinese terms, what does gongci mean, 供词 meaning, testimony in Chinese, statement to police Chinese, defendant's statement, legal deposition.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 供词 (gōngcí), a crucial legal term in Chinese for a suspect's or defendant's confession or testimony. This page breaks down its characters, explores its significant cultural context within the Chinese legal system, and provides numerous practical examples. Learn the difference between a 供词 (gōngcí) and a witness's statement to avoid common mistakes when discussing a legal case or a statement to the police in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōngcí
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6+ / Advanced
• Concise Definition: A confession or (oral) testimony given by a defendant or suspect in a legal case.
• In a Nutshell: 供词 (gōngcí) is a formal, legal term for the statement “supplied” (`供`) by a person accused of a crime. It is not just any statement; it is specifically the account given during a police interrogation or a court trial. While it can be a simple narration of events, it often carries the heavy weight of a confession and is a critical piece of evidence in the Chinese legal process.

• 供 (gōng): This character means “to provide,” “to supply,” or “to confess.” It's composed of the person radical (亻) on the left and 共 (gòng), meaning “together” or “common,” on the right. You can think of a person (亻) bringing things together (共) to provide them. In a legal context, it means providing information or a statement.
• 词 (cí): This character means “word,” “phrase,” or “statement.” It features the speech radical (讠) on the left, indicating that the concept is related to language or speaking.
• Combined Meaning: The characters literally combine to mean “supplied words” or “provided statement.” This perfectly encapsulates the idea of a formal testimony given by an individual at the center of a legal investigation.

The concept of 供词 (gōngcí) is deeply rooted in Chinese legal tradition, which historically placed a very high value on obtaining a confession. There is a well-known principle: `坦白从宽，抗拒从严 (tǎnbái cóng kuān, kàngjù cóng yán)`, which means “leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist.” This has created a cultural and systemic emphasis on securing a confession as the “queen of evidence.” This contrasts sharply with legal systems in many Western countries, such as the United States, which are built upon the “right to remain silent” (Miranda rights) and the principle that the burden of proof lies entirely on the prosecution, without compelling the defendant to speak. While a 供词 (gōngcí) is technically just “testimony,” the cultural baggage it carries often makes it synonymous with “confession of guilt.” Understanding this term offers a window into the different philosophical underpinnings of the Chinese and Western justice systems. The focus is less on an adversarial battle and more on discovering the “truth,” for which the suspect's own account is seen as paramount.

供词 (gōngcí) is a formal and specific term. You will almost exclusively encounter it in legal or official contexts.

• In the News and Media: News reports on criminal cases, legal analysis, and crime dramas will frequently use 供词 to refer to a suspect's statement to the police or their testimony in court.
• Legal Proceedings: It is the standard technical term used in police reports, court documents, and by lawyers and judges.
• Conversation: An average person would only use this word if they were specifically discussing a crime or a court case they saw on TV or read about in the news. It is not an everyday conversational word.

The connotation of 供词 is generally neutral in that it is a technical descriptor, but it exists within a negative context (crime and punishment). It can be modified to show its nature, for example, `假供词 (jiǎ gōngcí)` for a “false confession” or `一致的供词 (yīzhì de gōngcí)` for “consistent testimony.”

• Example 1:
  • 警方获得了嫌疑人的供词。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng huòdéle xiányírén de gōngcí.
  • English: The police obtained the suspect's confession.
  • Analysis: This is a standard, neutral use of the term, typical of a news report. It simply states the fact that a testimony was given.
• Example 2:
  • 被告在法庭上推翻了他之前的供词。
  • Pinyin: Bèigào zài fǎtíng shàng tuīfānle tā zhīqián de gōngcí.
  • English: The defendant retracted his previous testimony in court.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows that a 供词 is not necessarily final and can be challenged or changed during the legal process. `推翻 (tuīfān)` literally means “to overturn.”
• Example 3:
  • 他的供词前后矛盾，引起了法官的怀疑。
  • Pinyin: Tā de gōngcí qiánhòu máodùn, yǐnqǐle fǎguān de huáiyí.
  • English: His testimony was inconsistent, which aroused the judge's suspicion.
  • Analysis: This highlights that the content and consistency of a 供词 are critically evaluated. `前后矛盾 (qiánhòu máodùn)` is a useful idiom for “inconsistent” or “self-contradictory.”
• Example 4:
  • 律师声称这份供词是通过刑讯逼供获得的。
  • Pinyin: Lǜshī shēngchēng zhè fèn gōngcí shì tōngguò xíngxùn bīgòng huòdé de.
  • English: The lawyer claimed that this confession was obtained through torture.
  • Analysis: This introduces the important related term `刑讯逼供 (xíngxùn bīgòng)`, meaning “to extort a confession by torture.” It shows a key context where the validity of a 供词 is questioned.
• Example 5:
  • 在没有其他证据的情况下，这份供词是本案的关键。
  • Pinyin: Zài méiyǒu qítā zhèngjù de qíngkuàng xià, zhè fèn gōngcí shì běn àn de guānjiàn.
  • English: In the absence of other evidence, this confession is the key to the case.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the immense weight a 供词 can carry in a legal case, especially in the Chinese context.
• Example 6:
  • 他自愿提供了一份详细的供词，说明了整个犯罪过程。
  • Pinyin: Tā zìyuàn tígōngle yī fèn xiángxì de gōngcí, shuōmíngle zhěnggè fànzuì guòchéng.
  • English: He voluntarily provided a detailed statement, explaining the entire criminal process.
  • Analysis: The word `自愿 (zìyuàn)` (voluntarily) is used here to emphasize that the confession was not coerced.
• Example 7:
  • 警察花了三个小时才录完他的供词。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá huāle sān ge xiǎoshí cái lù wán tā de gōngcí.
  • English: It took the police three hours to finish recording his statement.
  • Analysis: This shows the practical process of taking down a 供词. `录 (lù)` means “to record.”
• Example 8:
  • 两名嫌疑人的供词完全一致。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng míng xiányírén de gōngcí wánquán yīzhì.
  • English: The testimonies of the two suspects were completely consistent.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how 供词 from multiple individuals can be compared. `一致 (yīzhì)` means consistent or identical.
• Example 9:
  • 这份签了字的供词将被用作呈堂证供。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn qiānle zì de gōngcí jiāng bèi yòng zuò chéngtáng zhènggòng.
  • English: This signed confession will be used as evidence in court.
  • Analysis: This sentence clarifies that a 供词, which is often oral, becomes official evidence once transcribed and signed. `呈堂证供 (chéngtáng zhènggòng)` is a formal term for evidence presented in court.
• Example 10:
  • 他坚称自己是被迫做出了虚假的供词。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiānchēng zìjǐ shì bèipò zuò chūle xūjiǎ de gōngcí.
  • English: He insisted that he was forced to make a false confession.
  • Analysis: `虚假 (xūjiǎ)` means “false” or “fabricated.” This is a common defense, claiming the 供词 is not truthful.

The most common mistake for English speakers is to confuse 供词 (gōngcí) with a witness's testimony or a general statement.

• 供词 (gōngcí) vs. 证词 (zhèngcí): This is the most critical distinction.
  • 供词 (gōngcí): A statement from a suspect or defendant (the accused).
  • 证词 (zhèngcí): A statement from a witness (`证人 zhèngrén`).
  • Incorrect Usage: `*错误：目击者向警察提供了他的供词。` (Wrong: The eyewitness provided his confession to the police.)
  • Correct Usage: `◎正确：目击者向警察提供了他的证词。` (Correct: The eyewitness provided his testimony to the police.)
• 供词 (gōngcí) vs. 声明 (shēngmíng):
  • 供词 (gōngcí): A legal confession or testimony in a criminal case.
  • 声明 (shēngmíng): A general “statement” or “declaration,” often public and formal, like a company issuing a statement or a government making a declaration. You would never use 供词 in this context.

Essentially, only use 供词 when referring to the formal account given by the person accused of a crime within the context of a legal investigation or trial.

• 证词 (zhèngcí) - Witness testimony. The direct counterpart to 供词 for a non-suspect.
• 口供 (kǒugòng) - Oral confession/statement. A very close synonym for 供词, sometimes used interchangeably, but it specifically emphasizes the spoken (口 - mouth) nature of the testimony.
• 坦白 (tǎnbái) - (Verb) To confess, to own up. This is the *act* of confessing. The 供词 is the resulting statement or record.
• 招供 (zhāogòng) - (Verb) To confess to a crime. Similar to `坦白` but often implies confessing under pressure or interrogation.
• 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - Suspect. The person who gives a 供词.
• 被告 (bèigào) - Defendant; the accused (in a trial). The person whose 供词 is being examined in court.
• 刑讯逼供 (xíngxùn bīgòng) - A four-character idiom meaning “to extort a confession by torture or coercion.” A critical legal concept related to the validity of a 供词.
• 证据 (zhèngjù) - Evidence. A 供词 is considered a very important type of evidence.
• 作证 (zuòzhèng) - (Verb) To testify, to bear witness. A witness (`证人`) will `作证`, and the resulting testimony is their `证词`. A defendant (`被告`) gives a `供词`.