Keywords: kougong, 口供, Chinese legal term, Chinese confession, police statement in Chinese, give a statement in Chinese, deposition meaning, testimony in Chinese, what does kougong mean, Chinese law enforcement.
Summary: 口供 (kǒugòng) is a crucial Chinese legal term meaning a formal statement, deposition, or confession given to authorities like the police. This noun refers to the official record of what a suspect, witness, or person of interest says during an investigation. Understanding 口供 is essential for anyone interested in the Chinese legal system, news reports about crime, or popular C-dramas.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): kǒu gòng
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: N/A (Advanced)
Concise Definition: A formal, verbal statement made to an authority (especially the police), which is then transcribed into a written record.
In a Nutshell: Imagine you're in a police station being questioned. Everything you say that gets written down as your official account of events is your “口供”. It literally translates to “mouth supply,” meaning the information you “supply” with your “mouth.” It's a serious, formal term used exclusively in legal or official contexts.
Character Breakdown
口 (kǒu): This character is a pictogram of an open mouth. It means “mouth,” “opening,” or “entrance.” It's one of the most fundamental characters in Chinese.
供 (gòng): This character means “to provide,” “to supply,” or “to confess.” It's composed of 人 (rén - person) and 共 (gòng - together), suggesting a person presenting something.
The characters combine logically to mean “to provide information with one's mouth,” which perfectly captures the essence of giving a formal statement.
Cultural Context and Significance
The Weight of a Confession: In the Chinese legal and cultural context, a 口供, particularly a confession, has historically carried immense weight. While modern Chinese law emphasizes a wider range of evidence, the idea that a suspect's own words are a powerful form of proof remains influential. This is often a central plot point in Chinese crime dramas, where obtaining a reliable 口供 is a major goal for investigators.
Comparison to Western Concepts:
Statement/Deposition: “口供” is very similar to a “police statement” or a legal “deposition” in the West. It's a formal record of what someone says, taken before a trial.
Testimony vs. Confession: “口供” can be neutral (like a witness statement) or incriminating (like a confession). In English, “testimony” usually happens in a courtroom under oath, whereas a “口供” is typically given during the investigation phase. While it can translate to “confession,” the English word “confession” often carries a moral or emotional weight (e.g., confessing one's feelings) that the procedural and legalistic “口供” does not. A 口供 is the documented product of confessing.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Strictly Formal: This term is not used in everyday, casual conversation. You only encounter it in specific, serious contexts.
Law and Order: You will hear and see 口供 constantly when watching Chinese news about criminal cases, reading legal documents, or watching police procedurals and crime-focused C-dramas. It's a standard part of the vocabulary of law enforcement and the justice system.
Common Collocations:
录口供 (lù kǒugòng): To take/record a statement.
提供口供 (tígōng kǒugòng): To provide/give a statement.
推翻口供 (tuīfān kǒugòng): To retract/recant a statement.
逼取口供 (bīqǔ kǒugòng): To coerce/force a statement or confession.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
警察正在为目击者录口供。
Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài wèi mùjīzhě lù kǒugòng.
English: The police are taking a statement from the witness.
Analysis: This shows the most common usage. “录口供” (lù kǒugòng) is a set phrase for the act of an official recording a statement.
Example 2:
嫌疑人最终承认了罪行，并提供了详细的口供。
Pinyin: Xiányírén zuìzhōng chéngrènle zuìxíng, bìng tígōngle xiángxì de kǒugòng.
English: The suspect finally admitted to the crime and provided a detailed confession.
Analysis: Here, 口供 is used in the sense of a confession after someone admits guilt. “提供口供” (tígōng kǒugòng) is what the person being questioned does.
Example 3:
他的口供前后不一，引起了警方的怀疑。
Pinyin: Tā de kǒugòng qiánhòu bùyī, yǐnqǐle jǐngfāng de huáiyí.
English: His statement was inconsistent, which aroused the police's suspicion.
Analysis: This highlights that a 口供 is a single entity that can be analyzed for consistency. “前后不一” (qiánhòu bùyī) is a common way to describe a contradictory statement.
Example 4:
在律师来之前，他拒绝提供任何口供。
Pinyin: Zài lǜshī lái zhīqián, tā jùjué tígōng rènhé kǒugòng.
English: He refused to give any statement before his lawyer arrived.
Analysis: This demonstrates the term's use in the context of legal rights.
English: On the police officer's desk were several statements related to this case.
Analysis: Shows 口供 as a physical or digital document that can be collected and reviewed.
Example 10:
两名嫌疑人的口供有很大出入。
Pinyin: Liǎng míng xiányírén de kǒugòng yǒu hěn dà chūrù.
English: There are major discrepancies between the two suspects' statements.
Analysis: “有出入” (yǒu chūrù) is a common way to say there are differences or discrepancies between two or more statements.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Don't Use It Casually: The most common mistake is using 口供 for any kind of explanation or story. It is exclusively for official, legal, or investigative contexts.
Incorrect: 我向朋友提供了关于派对的口供。(Wǒ xiàng péngyou tígōngle guānyú pàiduì de kǒugòng.) - “I gave my friend a 'statement' about the party.”
Correct: 我跟朋友说了说派对上发生的事。(Wǒ gēn péngyou shuōleshuō pàiduì shàng fāshēng de shì.) - “I told my friend what happened at the party.”
口供 (kǒugòng) vs. 证词 (zhèngcí) vs. 坦白 (tǎnbái):
口供 (kǒugòng): The general term for a formal statement given to authorities during an investigation. It is a noun. It can be from a witness or a suspect.
证词 (zhèngcí): “Testimony.” This is more specific and usually refers to a statement given by a witness in court under oath. It is also a noun.
坦白 (tǎnbái): “To confess.” This is a verb describing the action of admitting guilt. The resulting document from a 坦白 would be a 口供.
Related Terms and Concepts
证词 (zhèngcí) - Testimony, especially that given by a witness in a court of law.
坦白 (tǎnbái) - To confess; the act of admitting one's wrongdoing.
供认 (gòngrèn) - A more formal verb meaning to confess or admit to a crime.