móushā: 谋杀 - Murder, Homicide

• Keywords: 谋杀, mousha, móushā, murder in Chinese, how to say murder in Mandarin, premeditated murder, homicide Chinese, Chinese crime vocabulary, killing in Chinese, legal Chinese terms, 杀人, HSK 6
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word for murder, 谋杀 (móushā). This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and legal significance. Discover how `谋杀` specifically refers to premeditated killing, distinguishing it from other forms of homicide, and see how it's used in real-world example sentences from news reports to crime dramas.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): móushā
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To intentionally and illegally kill someone; the crime of murder.
• In a Nutshell: `谋杀` is a serious, formal term for “murder.” It's not a word used lightly in conversation. The key to understanding `谋杀` is the first character, `谋` (móu), which means “to plot” or “to scheme.” Therefore, `谋杀` specifically implies a premeditated, planned killing, making it the most severe form of homicide in a legal context.

• 谋 (móu): This character means to plot, scheme, or plan. Think of it as the strategic and deliberate thought process before an action. It's found in words like `阴谋 (yīnmóu)` meaning “conspiracy.”
• 杀 (shā): This character is direct and means “to kill,” “to slay,” or “to slaughter.” It represents the final, violent act.
• When combined, 谋杀 (móushā) literally means “a plotted killing.” This combination perfectly captures the legal concept of premeditated murder, where intent and planning are key elements of the crime.

Like in most cultures, murder is considered the ultimate crime in China. The term `谋杀` carries immense legal and moral weight. It is not just about the act of killing (`杀`), but about the cold, calculated intent (`谋`) behind it, which is seen as a profound violation of social order and human life. A useful comparison for English speakers is to contrast `谋杀` (móushā) with the broader English term “homicide.” While “homicide” is a neutral term for any killing of one person by another, `谋杀` is specifically “murder” with malice aforethought. Chinese law, like Western law, distinguishes between different types of unlawful killing. `谋杀` is the most serious. This contrasts with, for example, `过失杀人` (guòshī shārén), which is closer to “manslaughter” or “negligent homicide,” where the killing was unintentional. This legal precision shows that the concept of “intent” is just as crucial in the Chinese justice system as it is in the West.

`谋杀` is a formal word used almost exclusively in specific contexts. You will not hear people using it in casual, everyday chat unless they are discussing a serious event.

• Legal and News Contexts: This is the primary domain for `谋杀`. It's used in police reports, court proceedings, legal documents, and news articles about crimes. For example, `谋杀案 (móushā àn)` means “murder case” and `谋杀嫌疑人 (móushā xiányírén)` means “murder suspect.”
• Fiction and Entertainment: The term is extremely common in crime novels, TV shows, and movies. A detective might say, “这是一起精心策划的谋杀案” (This is a meticulously planned murder case).
• Formal Discussions: When discussing social issues, history, or law, `谋杀` is the appropriate term for premeditated killing.

The connotation is always negative and extremely serious. It is never used informally or humorously.

• Example 1:
  • 警方正在调查这起残忍的谋杀案。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng zhèngzài diàochá zhè qǐ cánrěn de móushā àn.
  • English: The police are investigating this brutal murder case.
  • Analysis: A very standard usage in a news or official context. `案 (àn)` means “(legal) case.”
• Example 2:
  • 他被指控谋杀了他的商业伙伴。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi zhǐkòng móushā le tā de shāngyè huǒbàn.
  • English: He was accused of murdering his business partner.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the passive structure `被 (bèi)` to show that the subject is the recipient of the action “to accuse” (`指控 zhǐkòng`).
• Example 3:
  • 检方认为，这起案件的谋杀动机是嫉妒。
  • Pinyin: Jiǎnfāng rènwéi, zhè qǐ ànjiàn de móushā dòngjī shì jídù.
  • English: The prosecution believes the motive for the murder in this case was jealousy.
  • Analysis: Here, `谋杀` is used as a noun to modify `动机 (dòngjī)`, meaning “motive.”
• Example 4:
  • 所有的证据都指向他，但他否认犯下了谋杀罪。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de zhèngjù dōu zhǐxiàng tā, dàn tā fǒurèn fànxià le móushā zuì.
  • English: All the evidence points to him, but he denies having committed the crime of murder.
  • Analysis: `谋杀罪 (móushā zuì)` is the formal legal term for “the crime of murder.”
• Example 5:
  • 这部电影的情节围绕着一个悬而未决的谋杀谜团展开。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de qíngjié wéirào zhe yí ge xuán'érwèijué de móushā mítuán zhǎnkāi.
  • English: The plot of this movie revolves around an unsolved murder mystery.
  • Analysis: A common usage in the context of entertainment and fiction.
• Example 6:
  • 他因谋杀未遂被判处十年徒刑。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīn móushā wèisuì bèi pànchǔ shí nián túxíng.
  • English: He was sentenced to ten years in prison for attempted murder.
  • Analysis: `未遂 (wèisuì)` means “unsuccessful attempt.” `谋杀未遂` is the standard term for “attempted murder.”
• Example 7:
  • 这位侦探花了毕生精力才揭开那起连环谋杀案的真相。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi zhēntàn huā le bìshēng jīnglì cái jiēkāi nà qǐ liánhuán móushā àn de zhēnxiàng.
  • English: This detective spent his entire life's energy to uncover the truth of that serial murder case.
  • Analysis: `连环 (liánhuán)` means “serial” or “linked,” creating the term for “serial murder.”
• Example 8:
  • 为了继承巨额遗产，她不惜谋杀了自己的叔叔。
  • Pinyin: Wèile jìchéng jù'é yíchǎn, tā bùxī móushā le zìjǐ de shūshu.
  • English: In order to inherit a huge fortune, she went so far as to murder her own uncle.
  • Analysis: This sentence structure `为了…不惜…` (In order to… go so far as to…) highlights the motive and the extreme nature of the action.
• Example 9:
  • 在法庭上，律师试图证明被告没有谋杀的意图。
  • Pinyin: Zài fǎtíng shàng, lǜshī shìtú zhèngmíng bèigào méiyǒu móushā de yìtú.
  • English: In court, the lawyer tried to prove that the defendant did not have the intent to murder.
  • Analysis: This shows the legal importance of `意图 (yìtú)`, or “intent,” in a murder charge.
• Example 10:
  • 这不是简单的事故，而是精心策划的谋杀。
  • Pinyin: Zhè búshì jiǎndān de shìgù, érshì jīngxīn cèhuà de móushā.
  • English: This was not a simple accident, but a meticulously planned murder.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts an accident (`事故 shìgù`) with murder, highlighting the key element of planning (`精心策划 jīngxīn cèhuà`).

• Mistake: Using `谋杀` for any kind of killing.

The most common mistake for learners is to use `谋杀` whenever they want to say “kill.” `谋杀` is *specifically* premeditated murder.

• Incorrect: 他打猎时谋杀了一只鹿。(Tā dǎliè shí móushā le yì zhī lù.)
• Reason: You cannot “murder” an animal in a legal or linguistic sense. The killing is not a premeditated crime against a person.
• Correct: 他打猎时打死了一只鹿。(Tā dǎliè shí dǎsǐ le yì zhī lù.) - “He shot a deer dead while hunting.”
• Distinguishing `谋杀` from other related terms:
• `杀 (shā)`: The general verb “to kill.” Can be used for people, animals, or even figuratively (e.g., `杀时间 shā shíjiān` - to kill time).
• `杀人 (shārén)`: “To kill a person.” This is a more general term for homicide than `谋杀`. An act can be `杀人` without being `谋杀` (e.g., in self-defense or by accident).
• `过失杀人 (guòshī shārén)`: Manslaughter or negligent homicide. This explicitly denotes an *unintentional* killing.
• `自杀 (zìshā)`: Suicide (to kill oneself).

Always remember: All `谋杀` is `杀人`, but not all `杀人` is `谋杀`. The difference is the `谋`—the plot, the plan, the intent.

• 杀人 (shārén) - To kill a person. A more general term for homicide that doesn't necessarily imply premeditation.
• 凶手 (xiōngshǒu) - The murderer or killer. The person who commits the act.
• 暗杀 (ànshā) - Assassination. A specific type of murder, usually of a public figure for political reasons. The `暗` (àn) means “dark” or “secret.”
• 过失杀人 (guòshī shārén) - Negligent homicide; manslaughter. The legal term for an unintentional killing.
• 自杀 (zìshā) - Suicide. Literally “self-kill.”
• 案件 (ànjiàn) - A (legal) case. Often combined to form `谋杀案件` (murder case).
• 动机 (dòngjī) - Motive. A crucial element in understanding a `谋杀` case.
• 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - A suspect (in a crime). You would often hear `谋杀嫌疑人`.
• 犯罪 (fànzuì) - To commit a crime; a crime. `谋杀` is a type of `犯罪`.
• 证据 (zhèngjù) - Evidence. What is needed to prove a `谋杀` charge.