moshōu: 没收 - To Confiscate, Forfeit, Seize

• Keywords: moshou, 没收, confiscate Chinese, forfeit Chinese, what does moshou mean, Chinese for confiscation, seize property Chinese, legal terms Chinese, Chinese police, HSK 5
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the Chinese word 没收 (mòshōu), which means “to confiscate” or “to seize.” This HSK 5 verb is crucial for understanding situations involving authority, such as legal proceedings, customs checks, or even a teacher taking a phone in class. This guide breaks down its characters, cultural context, and provides numerous practical examples to help you master its formal and informal uses.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): mòshōu
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To confiscate, seize, or forfeit property by an authority.
• In a Nutshell: 没收 (mòshōu) is the action of an authority figure (like the police, a judge, a customs officer, or a teacher) taking something away from someone, usually as a punishment or because the item is illegal or forbidden. It's not a simple “taking”; it implies a legitimate power to do so based on rules or laws.

• 没 (mò): In this context, this character is pronounced with the 4th tone (mò). Its original meaning relates to “sinking” or “submerging,” which creates the vivid image of something disappearing or being taken out of existence.
• 收 (shōu): This character means “to receive,” “to collect,” or “to take in.”
• The two characters combine to mean “to make disappear and collect.” This perfectly captures the essence of confiscation: an authority makes an item disappear from your possession and officially collects it.

没收 (mòshōu) is a term deeply rooted in concepts of authority, law, and hierarchy. It's not a word used between equals. The act of 没收 reinforces the power structure of the state or an institution over an individual. When you hear this word, it immediately brings to mind situations where rules have been broken and consequences are being enforced. A useful comparison is to the English word “confiscate.” Both are formal and imply an authoritative action. However, in Chinese culture, the term can be used in a slightly broader, yet still hierarchical, context, such as a parent dealing with a child or a teacher with a student. A teacher who 没收 a student's phone is seen as acting within their official capacity to enforce school rules. This differs from a casual English phrase like “the teacher took my phone,” as 没收 explicitly frames the action as a formal, rule-based seizure, highlighting the teacher's authority within the classroom hierarchy.

没收 (mòshōu) is used in a variety of contexts, ranging from the extremely formal to the playfully informal.

• Legal and Official Context: This is the most common usage. You will see it constantly in news reports, legal documents, and official announcements concerning crime, smuggling, or corruption. The tone is serious and formal.
  • Examples: Confiscating illegal income, smuggled goods, or counterfeit products.
• Institutional Rules: It is frequently used in environments with clear rules and authority figures, such as schools and some workplaces.
  • Examples: A school confiscating a student's mobile phone or comic books during class time.
• Informal and Hyperbolic Use: Parents or friends might use this word in a joking way to sound mock-authoritative. It's a way of playfully borrowing the weight of the formal term to make a point.
  • Example: A parent telling their child, “If you don't finish your dinner, I'm going to 没收 your iPad!”

• Example 1:
  • 他的所有非法所得都被法院没收了。
  • Pinyin: Tā de suǒyǒu fēifǎ suǒdé dōu bèi fǎyuàn mòshōu le.
  • English: All of his illegal gains were confiscated by the court.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, formal use of 没收 in a legal context. The passive voice with `被 (bèi)` is very common, as the focus is on the object being confiscated.
• Example 2:
  • 过海关的时候，我的那瓶酒因为超量被没收了。
  • Pinyin: Guò hǎiguān de shíhou, wǒ de nà píng jiǔ yīnwèi chāoliàng bèi mòshōu le.
  • English: When I was going through customs, my bottle of liquor was confiscated because it was over the limit.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a common experience where an official body (customs) enforces a specific regulation.
• Example 3:
  • 老师说，如果在课堂上玩手机，她就要没收我们的手机。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī shuō, rúguǒ zài kètáng shàng wán shǒujī, tā jiù yào mòshōu wǒmen de shǒujī.
  • English: The teacher said that if we play on our phones in class, she will confiscate them.
  • Analysis: This shows the word used in an institutional setting (a school). The teacher is the authority figure.
• Example 4:
  • 警察没收了他的假护照。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá mòshōu le tā de jiǎ hùzhào.
  • English: The police confiscated his fake passport.
  • Analysis: A straightforward example of law enforcement action. The subject (police) directly performs the action.
• Example 5:
  • 妈妈开玩笑说，如果我再不打扫房间，她就要没收我的电脑。
  • Pinyin: Māma kāiwánxiào shuō, rúguǒ wǒ zài bù dǎsǎo fángjiān, tā jiù yào mòshōu wǒ de diànnǎo.
  • English: Mom joked that if I didn't clean my room, she would confiscate my computer.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the informal, hyperbolic usage. The mother is playfully acting like an authority figure to make a point.
• Example 6:
  • 这家工厂因生产假冒产品，所有设备都被政府没收了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngchǎng yīn shēngchǎn jiǎmào chǎnpǐn, suǒyǒu shèbèi dōu bèi zhèngfǔ mòshōu le.
  • English: Because this factory produced counterfeit goods, all of its equipment was confiscated by the government.
  • Analysis: This illustrates a large-scale confiscation by a government body as a penalty for illegal business activities.
• Example 7:
  • 根据规定，考试作弊者的手机将被当场没收。
  • Pinyin: Gēnjù guīdìng, kǎoshì zuòbì zhě de shǒujī jiāng bèi dāngchǎng mòshōu.
  • English: According to the regulations, the mobile phones of those who cheat on exams will be confiscated on the spot.
  • Analysis: `将 (jiāng)` is a formal way to indicate the future tense, often used in written rules and announcements, pairing well with the formal nature of 没收.
• Example 8:
  • 走私犯的船和货物一同被没收。
  • Pinyin: Zǒusīfàn de chuán hé huòwù yītóng bèi mòshōu.
  • English: The smuggler's boat and cargo were confiscated together.
  • Analysis: Shows that 没收 can apply to multiple, large-scale items.
• Example 9:
  • 在古代，如果一个官员犯了重罪，他的家产可能会被全部没收。
  • Pinyin: Zài gǔdài, rúguǒ yīgè guānyuán fànle zhòngzuì, tā de jiāchǎn kěnéng huì bèi quánbù mòshōu.
  • English: In ancient times, if an official committed a serious crime, his family property could be entirely confiscated.
  • Analysis: This provides historical context, showing the long-standing use of confiscation as a form of punishment.
• Example 10:
  • 你最好把这些盗版光盘藏起来，不然被发现了肯定要没收。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zuìhǎo bǎ zhèxiē dàobǎn guāngpán cáng qǐlái, bùrán bèi fāxiànle kěndìng yào mòshōu.
  • English: You'd better hide these pirated discs, otherwise if they're discovered, they will definitely be confiscated.
  • Analysis: A conversational warning. Note the omission of the agent (who confiscates). In context, it's understood to be an authority like the police or market regulators.

A common mistake for learners is to use 没收 (mòshōu) for any act of taking something. It is crucial to remember that 没收 requires an authority figure and a reason based on rules or laws.

• 没收 (mòshōu) vs. 拿走 (názǒu):
  • 没收 (mòshōu): To confiscate (by an authority).
  • 拿走 (názǒu): To take away (neutral, no authority implied).
  • Incorrect: 我的朋友没收了我的书。 (Wǒ de péngyou mòshōu le wǒ de shū.)
    • (My friend confiscated my book.) This is wrong because your friend is your peer and has no authority to “confiscate” from you.
  • Correct: 我的朋友拿走了我的书。 (Wǒ de péngyou názǒu le wǒ de shū.)
    • (My friend took away my book.) This is a neutral statement.
• 没收 (mòshōu) vs. 偷 (tōu) / 抢 (qiǎng):
  • A thief doesn't 没收 your wallet; they 偷 (tōu) (steal) it or 抢 (qiǎng) (rob/snatch) it. 没收 implies a legitimate, albeit unwelcome, exercise of power. Stealing is an illegitimate, illegal act.

• 充公 (chōnggōng) - To confiscate and turn over to the state. This is more specific than 没收, emphasizing that the seized assets now belong to the public/government.
• 查封 (cháfēng) - To seize and seal (e.g., a property or bank account). This is about freezing assets rather than physically taking movable goods.
• 扣押 (kòuyā) - To detain or hold in custody. This can apply to people, passports, or goods held as evidence. It implies a temporary holding, whereas 没收 is often permanent.
• 罚款 (fákuǎn) - To fine; a monetary fine. This is a different type of penalty but often occurs alongside the confiscation of illegal goods.
• 上交 (shàngjiāo) - To hand over to a superior or an organization. This is the voluntary action of giving something up to an authority, whereas 没收 is the involuntary act of having it taken by them.
• 征用 (zhēngyòng) - To expropriate or commandeer, usually for public use (e.g., the government taking land to build a highway). This is typically done with some form of compensation and is not a punishment.