zhāogòng: 招供 - To Confess (a crime), To Make a Confession

zhāogòng: 招供 - To Confess (a crime), To Make a Confession

Quick Summary

Keywords: zhaogong, 招供, confess Chinese, make a confession in Chinese, confess to police Chinese, Chinese word for confess, admit guilt Chinese, zhao gong meaning, Chinese legal terms, criminal confession
Summary: Learn the Chinese word 招供 (zhāogòng), a powerful verb meaning “to confess” a crime. Unlike the English word “confess,” which can be used casually, 招供 is used almost exclusively in serious legal and criminal contexts, such as a suspect confessing to the police during an interrogation. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and provides practical examples for learners.

Core Meaning

Pinyin (with tone marks): zhāogòng
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 6
Concise Definition: To confess one's crimes or wrongdoing, typically under official interrogation.
In a Nutshell: 招供 (zhāogòng) is a heavy, formal term you'd see in a police drama, not in a casual conversation. It specifically refers to a criminal suspect admitting their guilt and providing details of their crimes to an authority figure (like the police or a court). Think of it as the formal act of “spilling the beans” about a crime you've committed.

Character Breakdown

招 (zhāo): This character's original meaning is “to beckon” or “to summon,” often with a hand (as seen in the radical 扌). In this context, it takes on the meaning of “to admit” or “to reveal.”
供 (gòng): This character means “to provide,” “to supply,” or “to make an offering.” It's often used in the context of providing testimony or information.
Combined Meaning: The characters together create a vivid image: “to beckon out and supply” the details of a crime. It implies a formal offering of testimony, usually under pressure, to the authorities.

Cultural Context and Significance

The Weight of Confession: In the Chinese legal and social context, a confession is often seen as a pivotal moment in the justice process. It's not just an admission of fact but a step towards accepting punishment and potentially rejoining the social order. This is encapsulated in the well-known slogan: 坦白从宽, 抗拒从严 (tǎnbái cóngkuān, kàngjù cóngyán), which means “Leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist.” This phrase is often posted in police stations and reflects a cultural and legal incentive to confess.
Comparison to “Confess”: An English speaker might say, “I confess, I ate the last slice of cake.” Using 招供 in this situation would be completely inappropriate and sound absurdly dramatic. 招供 is reserved for serious wrongdoing and crimes. For casual admissions, a word like 承认 (chéngrèn - to admit) is far more suitable. This distinction highlights the seriousness and specific legal domain of 招供.

Practical Usage in Modern China

Strictly Formal and Legal: You will encounter 招供 almost exclusively in formal contexts.
- News Media: In crime reporting, news articles about trials, arrests, and police investigations.
- Film and Television: It is a staple of Chinese police procedurals, historical dramas, and spy thrillers. The interrogation scene where the hero tries to make the villain 招供 is a classic trope.
- Legal Documents: Used in official court records, police reports, and legal correspondence.
Connotation: The connotation is serious and negative. The person who needs to 招供 is a criminal suspect. The act itself is a turning point, marking the admission of guilt and the acceptance of legal consequences.

Example Sentences

Example 1:
- 经过几个小时的审问，嫌疑人终于招供了。
- Pinyin: Jīngguò jǐ ge xiǎoshí de shěnwèn, xiányírén zhōngyú zhāogòng le.
- English: After several hours of interrogation, the suspect finally confessed.
- Analysis: This is a classic, straightforward use of the term in a police context.
Example 2:
- 他招供了所有罪行，包括抢劫和盗窃。
- Pinyin: Tā zhāogòng le suǒyǒu zuìxíng, bāokuò qiǎngjié hé dàoqiè.
- English: He confessed to all his crimes, including robbery and theft.
- Analysis: This shows how 招供 is used with the object of the confession (the crimes).
Example 3:
- 在确凿的证据面前，他不得不招供。
- Pinyin: Zài quèzuò de zhèngjù miànqián, tā bùdébù zhāogòng.
- English: In the face of conclusive evidence, he had no choice but to confess.
- Analysis: This example highlights that a confession is often a result of external pressure, in this case, irrefutable evidence.
Example 4:
- 警方正在努力让他招供出同伙的下落。
- Pinyin: Jǐngfāng zhèngzài nǔlì ràng tā zhāogòng chū tónghuǒ de xiàluò.
- English: The police are working hard to make him confess the whereabouts of his accomplices.
- Analysis: Here, 招供 is followed by a resultative complement `出 (chū)`, meaning “to confess out” or reveal information.
Example 5:
- 无论怎么拷打，那个间谍都拒绝招供。
- Pinyin: Wúlùn zěnme kǎodǎ, nàge jiàndié dōu jùjué zhāogòng.
- English: No matter how he was tortured, that spy refused to confess.
- Analysis: A common trope in spy movies and historical dramas, showing refusal to confess as an act of loyalty or strength.
Example 6:
- 他很快就招供了，把一切都告诉了警察。
- Pinyin: Tā hěn kuài jiù zhāogòng le, bǎ yīqiè dōu gàosù le jǐngchá.
- English: He confessed quickly, telling the police everything.
- Analysis: This shows a simple, direct narrative of a confession.
Example 7:
- 他的招供是破案的关键。
- Pinyin: Tā de zhāogòng shì pò'àn de guānjiàn.
- English: His confession was the key to solving the case.
- Analysis: Here, the verb is used as a noun through the use of `的 (de)`, turning “to confess” into “confession.”
Example 8:
- 警察问他：“你到底招不招供？”
- Pinyin: Jǐngchá wèn tā: “Nǐ dàodǐ zhāo bu zhāogòng?”
- English: The police officer asked him: “Are you going to confess or not?”
- Analysis: This uses the common A-not-A (verb-bu-verb) question structure, creating a sense of pressure and immediacy.
Example 9:
- 罪犯招供说，他把赃款藏在了床底下。
- Pinyin: Zuìfàn zhāogòng shuō, tā bǎ zāngkuǎn cáng zài le chuáng dǐxia.
- English: The criminal confessed that he had hidden the stolen money under the bed.
- Analysis: Shows how 招供 can be followed by `说 (shuō)` to introduce the content of the confession.
Example 10:
- 如果你现在招供，法院可能会从轻处罚。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ xiànzài zhāogòng, fǎyuàn kěnéng huì cóngqīng chǔfá.
- English: If you confess now, the court may give you a lighter sentence.
- Analysis: This sentence directly reflects the cultural concept of “leniency for those who confess.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

Biggest Mistake: Using it Casually.
- The most common error for English speakers is to treat 招供 like the English “confess.” Never use it for minor, non-criminal admissions.
- Incorrect: 我招供，是我忘了关灯。(Wǒ zhāogòng, shì wǒ wàngle guān dēng.) - “I confess, it was me who forgot to turn off the lights.”
- Why it's wrong: This sounds comically dramatic, as if forgetting to turn off the lights were a serious crime worthy of a police interrogation.
- Correct: 我承认，是我忘了关灯。(Wǒ chéngrèn, shì wǒ wàngle guān dēng.) - “I admit, it was me who forgot to turn off the lights.”
False Friend: Confess vs. 招供 (zhāogòng)
- “Confess” in English has a wide range of uses, from admitting a crime to a priest, to admitting a silly mistake, to admitting a secret love.
- 招供 (zhāogòng) has only one use: a criminal suspect admitting guilt and details of their crime to the authorities. For all other situations, use a different word.

Related Terms and Concepts

承认 (chéngrèn) - To admit, to acknowledge. A neutral, general-purpose verb for admitting facts or mistakes. This is the word to use for most everyday “confessions.”
坦白 (tǎnbái) - To be frank, to confess honestly. Broader than 招供 and can be used for non-criminal matters, like admitting a personal fault to a friend. It implies a voluntary and honest disclosure.
自首 (zìshǒu) - To turn oneself in to the police. This is the physical act of surrendering to authorities before being caught.
供词 (gòngcí) - A (written or oral) confession; testimony (noun). This is the product of a 招供.
审问 (shěnwèn) - To interrogate. The formal process of questioning a suspect, which is intended to elicit a 招供.
逼供 (bīgòng) - To extort a confession; to coerce a confession (e.g., through torture or threats). A negative term for the illegal methods used to force a confession.
嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - A criminal suspect. The person who is typically asked to 招供.
罪行 (zuìxíng) - A crime; a criminal act. The subject matter that is confessed.

Table of Contents

zhāogòng: 招供 - To Confess (a crime), To Make a Confession

Quick Summary

Core Meaning

Character Breakdown

Cultural Context and Significance

Practical Usage in Modern China

Example Sentences

Nuances and Common Mistakes

Related Terms and Concepts