The term 被告 (bèigào) is a direct translation of “defendant,” but its cultural weight can feel different to a Western learner. The Chinese legal system, while having adopted many international norms like the presumption of innocence, operates within a social context that places immense trust in and authority upon the state.
Comparison to “Defendant”: In the American adversarial system, the “defendant” and their lawyer are in a direct contest against the prosecutor. The process is a battle between two equal-ish sides, refereed by a judge. In China, the system is historically more inquisitorial, where the judge plays a more active role in investigation. While this is changing, the public perception remains that being officially named a 被告 means you are in a serious confrontation with the state's apparatus. The conviction rate in China is exceedingly high, so the label 被告 can carry a stronger social stigma and a greater presumption of guilt in the court of public opinion, even if not in the court of law.
Formality and the State: Using a term like 被告 signals that a dispute has escalated beyond personal disagreement into the formal, state-sanctioned realm of the judiciary. This is a significant step in a culture that traditionally values harmony and prefers resolving conflicts through mediation or informal channels to “save face” for all parties. Becoming a 被告 means the situation is now public, serious, and in the hands of the authorities.