zuìmíng: 罪名 - Criminal Charge, Accusation

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• Summary: The Chinese term 罪名 (zuìmíng) refers to the specific name of a crime or the formal criminal charge brought against a person. Unlike the general act of committing a crime (犯罪, fànzuì), 罪名 is the official legal label, such as “theft,” “arson,” or “fraud.” Understanding this term is crucial for comprehending Chinese legal news, discussions about justice, and its serious social implications.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuì míng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: The specific name of a crime; a formal criminal charge or accusation.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 罪名 (zuìmíng) as the official “title” or “label” of a crime. When someone breaks the law, the act itself is called 犯罪 (fànzuì). But when the prosecutor formally accuses them, the specific charge they are accused of—like “assault” or “embezzlement”—is their 罪名. It is a precise and serious legal term.

• 罪 (zuì): This character means “crime,” “sin,” or “guilt.” It's composed of 网 (wǎng), meaning “net,” over 非 (fēi), meaning “wrong” or “mistake.” The image is of catching someone in a net for their wrongdoing.
• 名 (míng): This character simply means “name.” The pictograph shows a mouth (口) next to the symbol for evening (夕), perhaps suggesting calling out one's name in the dark to identify them.
• Combined Meaning: The characters literally combine to mean “crime's name.” This etymology perfectly captures the modern meaning of 罪名 as the specific, named charge for a criminal act.

In Chinese society, the concept of a 罪名 carries immense social weight that can extend beyond the courtroom. While Western legal systems emphasize “presumption of innocence,” the social reality in China can feel closer to a “presumption of guilt” once a formal 罪名 is announced. The accusation itself, even before a conviction, can bring great shame and a “loss of face” (面子, miànzi) not just to the individual but to their entire family. This contrasts with Western individualism, where the legal troubles of an individual are more contained. In China, a serious 罪名 can damage a family's reputation and social connections (关系, guānxi) for years. Therefore, the act of formally charging someone is a deeply serious step, and the term 罪名 itself evokes a sense of gravity, finality, and potential social ruin.

• Formal Legal Context: This is the primary usage. You will hear and see 罪名 used constantly in news reports about legal cases, in court proceedings, and on legal documents. It is the standard, formal term.
• In Media and News: Journalists will use 罪名 to report on arrests and trials. For example, “他被指控三项罪名” (Tā bèi zhǐkòng sān xiàng zuìmíng) - “He was accused of three charges.”
• Figurative/Exaggerated Usage: In casual conversation, people sometimes use 罪名 hyperbolically to describe a “fault” or “shortcoming” in a dramatic or humorous way. For example, a friend might joke, “我唯一的罪名就是对你太好了” (Wǒ wéiyī de zuìmíng jiùshì duì nǐ tài hǎo le) - “My only 'crime' is being too good to you.” This is informal and not its core meaning.

• Example 1:
  • 检察官宣布了他的罪名：盗窃罪。
  • Pinyin: Jiǎncháguān xuānbùle tā de zuìmíng: dàoqiè zuì.
  • English: The prosecutor announced his charge: theft.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, straightforward example of 罪名 used in a formal legal context. 盗窃罪 (dàoqiè zuì) is the specific “name of the crime.”
• Example 2:
  • 警方还没确定嫌疑人的罪名。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng hái méi quèdìng xiányírén de zuìmíng.
  • English: The police have not yet determined the suspect's charge.
  • Analysis: This shows that 罪名 is the result of an investigation; it's the specific legal label applied after considering the evidence.
• Example 3:
  • 他坚决否认所有针对他的罪名。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiānjué fǒurèn suǒyǒu zhēnduì tā de zuìmíng.
  • English: He resolutely denies all the charges against him.
  • Analysis: A common collocation, showing how one responds to a 罪名.
• Example 4:
  • 这完全是捏造的罪名，我是无辜的！
  • Pinyin: Zhè wánquán shì niēzào de zuìmíng, wǒ shì wúgū de!
  • English: This is a completely fabricated charge, I am innocent!
  • Analysis: “捏造的罪名” (niēzào de zuìmíng) means “a fabricated charge,” a common phrase used when claiming a frame-up.
• Example 5:
  • 如果这项罪名成立，他将面临至少十年监禁。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ zhè xiàng zuìmíng chénglì, tā jiāng miànlín zhìshǎo shí nián jiānjìn.
  • English: If this charge is established (if he is convicted), he will face at least ten years in prison.
  • Analysis: The phrase “罪名成立” (zuìmíng chénglì) means “the charge is proven” or “to be convicted of the charge.”
• Example 6:
  • 他们给他安上了一个“叛国”的罪名。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen gěi tā ān shàngle yí ge “pànguó” de zuìmíng.
  • English: They pinned the charge of “treason” on him.
  • Analysis: The verb phrase “安上…罪名” (ān shàng… zuìmíng) means to “pin a charge on someone,” often implying it's unfair or false.
• Example 7:
  • 他的罪名有很多，包括诈骗、勒索和洗钱。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zuìmíng yǒu hěn duō, bāokuò zhàpiàn, lèsuǒ hé xǐqián.
  • English: He has many charges, including fraud, blackmail, and money laundering.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates that a person can face multiple charges (罪名).
• Example 8:
  • 在这个家庭里，懒惰是最大的罪名。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhège jiātíng lǐ, lǎnduò shì zuìdà de zuìmíng.
  • English: In this family, laziness is the biggest “crime.”
  • Analysis: This is a perfect example of the figurative, non-legal use of 罪名 to mean a serious fault or transgression in a specific context.
• Example 9:
  • 他因为证据不足而被洗清了所有罪名。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi zhèngjù bùzú ér bèi xǐqīngle suǒyǒu zuìmíng.
  • English: He was cleared of all charges due to insufficient evidence.
  • Analysis: “洗清罪名” (xǐqīng zuìmíng) is a set phrase meaning “to clear one's name” or “to be exonerated of charges.”
• Example 10:
  • 你不能因为一个毫无根据的罪名就毁掉一个人的生活。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng yīnwèi yí ge háo wú gēnjù de zuìmíng jiù huǐdiào yí ge rén de shēnghuó.
  • English: You can't ruin a person's life over a baseless accusation.
  • Analysis: Highlights the serious consequences of a 罪名, even if it's unfounded.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 罪名 (zuìmíng) with 犯罪 (fànzuì). They are not interchangeable.

• 罪名 (zuìmíng) is a noun meaning “the name of the charge.” It is the label.
• 犯罪 (fànzuì) is a verb-object phrase meaning “to commit a crime.” It is the action.

Think of it this way: A person first commits an action (犯罪), and then the legal system gives that action a label (罪名). Incorrect Usage: `* 他的犯罪是盗窃。` (Tā de fànzuì shì dàoqiè.)

• Why it's wrong: This literally translates to “His committing a crime is theft.” It mixes the action with the label.
• Correct Usage:
  • 他犯了盗窃罪。 (Tā fànle dàoqiè zuì.) - He committed the crime of theft. (Using 犯…罪 as a verb phrase).
  • 他的罪名是盗窃。 (Tā de zuìmíng shì dàoqiè.) - His charge is theft. (Using 罪名 as the noun/label).

Another similar term is 罪行 (zuìxíng), which refers to the criminal act or behavior itself. It's more abstract than 犯罪 and focuses on the nature of the deed. 罪名 remains the most specific term for the legal charge.

• 犯罪 (fànzuì) - The act of committing a crime. The action that leads to a 罪名.
• 罪犯 (zuìfàn) - A criminal, a convict. A person who has been convicted of a 罪名.
• 指控 (zhǐkòng) - (v./n.) To accuse; an accusation. This is the act of leveling a 罪名 against someone.
• 定罪 (dìngzuì) - To convict someone of a crime. This is what happens when a 罪名 is officially proven in court.
• 罪行 (zuìxíng) - A criminal act; an offense. Refers to the criminal behavior itself.
• 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - A suspect. A person suspected of a crime but not yet formally charged with a 罪名.
• 无辜 (wúgū) - Innocent. The state of not being guilty of any 罪名.
• 冤枉 (yuānwang) - To be wronged or unjustly accused. This describes the feeling of being given a false 罪名.
• 罪过 (zuìguo) - A fault, sin, transgression. A more moral or religious term, less legal than 罪名.
• 罪有应得 (zuì yǒu yīng dé) - An idiom meaning “to get what one deserves” or “the punishment fits the crime.”