Historically, 走私 (zǒusī) carries immense weight in China, largely due to the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century. British merchants engaged in massive-scale 走私 of opium into China, leading to widespread addiction, social turmoil, and ultimately, war. This event is a cornerstone of modern Chinese history, and thus the term 走私 is tied to national sovereignty and the memory of foreign exploitation. In a modern context, 走私 is often associated with evading China's high tariffs on luxury goods (like watches, bags, and cosmetics), advanced electronics, and automobiles. This has created a thriving grey market for what are known as 水货 (shuǐhuò), or “water goods,” which are products imported through unofficial channels. While buying 水货 might be common, the act of large-scale 走私 that brings them into the country is a serious crime prosecuted vigorously. Compared to the Western concept of the “black market,” 走私 (zǒusī) is more specific. The “black market” can refer to any illegal trade, including domestic ones. 走私 almost exclusively refers to the *cross-border* aspect of this trade—the act of illegally getting something past 海关 (hǎiguān), or customs.
走私 (zǒusī) is used in both formal legal contexts and everyday conversations, almost always with a strong negative connotation. It can function as a verb (“to smuggle”) or a noun (“smuggling”).
The term is frequently seen in news reports about customs seizures, police investigations, and international crime.