fákuǎn: 罚款 - Fine, Penalty (monetary)

• Keywords: fakuan, fákuǎn, 罚款, Chinese fine, penalty in China, how to say fine in Chinese, pay a fine in Chinese, traffic fine China, speeding ticket China, Chinese punishment, monetary penalty
• Summary: Learn how to use “罚款 (fákuǎn),” the essential Chinese word for a monetary fine or penalty. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage, from traffic tickets to library fines. Discover how to use it as both a noun (“a fine”) and a verb (“to fine someone”), with 10 practical example sentences, common mistakes to avoid, and related vocabulary for navigating rules and regulations in modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fákuǎn
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To impose a fine; a monetary penalty.
• In a Nutshell: “罚款 (fákuǎn)” is the standard, official term for any punishment that involves paying money for breaking a rule. Think of speeding tickets, fines for littering, late fees on a bill, or penalties for breaking a contract. It's a direct and unambiguous word that signifies a consequence for an infraction, paid to an authority.

• 罚 (fá): To punish, to penalize. This character is composed of 罒 (wǎng), a pictograph of a 'net', and 刂 (dāo), a 'knife'. Together, they create a vivid image of being caught in a net and then facing a sharp punishment.
• 款 (kuǎn): A sum of money; funds; an item or clause. This character has multiple meanings, but in this context, it clearly refers to money or funds.

When combined, 罚款 (fákuǎn) literally translates to “punishment money,” which is precisely what a fine is. The characters' origins paint a clear picture of the word's meaning: a monetary penalty for being caught doing something wrong.

In China, as in the West, “罚款 (fákuǎn)” is a fundamental tool of social governance and maintaining public order. It represents the principle of 法治 (fǎzhì), or “rule of law,” where consequences are clearly defined and applied by the state or an organization. A key cultural point of comparison is the interplay between formal rules and informal relationships. While in the West, one might try to “talk their way out of a ticket,” in China, the concept of 关系 (guānxi), or social connections, might historically have played a role in mitigating minor issues. However, with increased digitization, surveillance (e.g., traffic cameras), and a nationwide push against corruption, the effectiveness of “guānxi” in avoiding official fines has significantly diminished. For a foreigner, it's always best to assume the rules are absolute. The “罚款” is an impersonal consequence from the system, not a personal negotiation with an officer. It's less about pleading your case on the spot and more about a straightforward administrative process: you broke the rule, here is the penalty, please pay it at the designated place or via the app.

“罚款” is an extremely common word used in many official and daily contexts. Its connotation is consistently negative and formal. As a Noun (a fine): It is often preceded by a measure word like “一笔 (yī bǐ)” or “一个 (yī ge)”.

• `我收到了一个交通罚款。` (Wǒ shōudào le yī ge jiāotōng fákuǎn.) - I received a traffic fine.

As a Verb (to fine someone): It functions as a separable verb, meaning you can place the object (the person being fined) and the amount in the middle of “罚…款”.

• `警察罚了我200块钱款。` (Jǐngchá fá le wǒ liǎng bǎi kuài qián kuǎn.) - The police fined me 200 yuan.
  • Note: Often, the final “款” is dropped in this structure, making it `警察罚了我200块。` (Jǐngchá fá le wǒ liǎng bǎi kuài.) - The police fined me 200 kuai.

This term is used for:

• Traffic Violations: Speeding, running a red light, illegal parking.
• Public Misconduct: Littering, spitting.
• Administrative Penalties: Late library books, overdue bill payments.
• Company Rules: Violating a corporate policy might result in a “罚款” deducted from your salary.

Example 1:

• 因为超速，他被罚款五百元。
• Pinyin: Yīnwèi chāosù, tā bèi fákuǎn wǔbǎi yuán.
• English: He was fined 500 yuan for speeding.
• Analysis: A classic example using the passive structure “被 (bèi)” to show that an action (the fine) was done to him.

Example 2:

• 图书馆规定，书过期不还要交罚款。
• Pinyin: Túshūguǎn guīdìng, shū guòqī bù huán yào jiāo fákuǎn.
• English: The library rules state that you have to pay a fine for not returning books on time.
• Analysis: Here, “罚款” is a noun. “交 (jiāo)” is the verb “to pay” that is almost always used with it.

Example 3:

• 你再乱扔垃圾，我就要罚款了！
• Pinyin: Nǐ zài luàn rēng lājī, wǒ jiù yào fákuǎn le!
• English: If you litter again, I'm going to fine you!
• Analysis: Shows “罚款” used as a verb in a direct threat or warning. The speaker is in a position of authority.

Example 4:

• 这个罚款必须在十五天内付清。
• Pinyin: Zhè ge fákuǎn bìxū zài shíwǔ tiān nèi fùqīng.
• English: This fine must be paid in full within 15 days.
• Analysis: Demonstrates “罚款” as a noun, the subject of the sentence, in a formal, instructional context.

Example 5:

• 违章停车的罚款是多少钱？
• Pinyin: Wéizhāng tíngchē de fákuǎn shì duōshǎo qián?
• English: How much is the fine for illegal parking?
• Analysis: A very practical question a driver might ask. “违章 (wéizhāng)” means “to violate regulations.”

Example 6:

• 公司罚了他上个月一半的奖金款。
• Pinyin: Gōngsī fá le tā shàng ge yuè yībàn de jiǎngjīn kuǎn.
• English: The company fined him half of last month's bonus.
• Analysis: This shows the separable verb usage `罚 + object + amount + 款`. This structure is very native.

Example 7:

• 他因为在合同中违反了条款而面临巨额罚款。
• Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi zài hétong zhōng wéifǎn le tiáokuǎn ér miànlín jù'é fákuǎn.
• English: He faces a huge fine for violating the clauses in the contract.
• Analysis: This shows a more formal, business/legal context. “巨额 (jù'é)” means “huge amount.”

Example 8:

• 别担心，这只是一个小小的罚款，不是什么大事。
• Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, zhè zhǐshì yī ge xiǎoxiǎo de fákuǎn, bùshì shénme dàshì.
• English: Don't worry, it's just a small fine, not a big deal.
• Analysis: Shows how the severity of the “罚款” can be described with adjectives like “小小的 (xiǎoxiǎo de)”.

Example 9:

• 我不同意这个罚款，因为当时交通信号灯坏了。
• Pinyin: Wǒ bù tóngyì zhè ge fákuǎn, yīnwèi dāngshí jiāotōng xìnhàodēng huài le.
• English: I don't agree with this fine because the traffic light was broken at the time.
• Analysis: A practical sentence for disputing a fine, showing “罚款” as the object of disagreement.

Example 10:

• 所有的罚款收入都将上缴国库。
• Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de fákuǎn shōurù dōu jiāng shàngjiǎo guókù.
• English: All revenue from fines will be turned over to the national treasury.
• Analysis: A highly formal, official sentence you might read in a government document, illustrating the ultimate destination of the money.

• Separable Verb Usage: English speakers often make mistakes with the word order when “罚款” is a verb.
  • Incorrect: `警察罚款我200块。` (Jǐngchá fákuǎn wǒ 200 kuài.)
  • Correct: `警察罚我200块款。` (Jǐngchá fá wǒ 200 kuài kuǎn.)
  • Also Correct (and more common): `警察罚了我200块。` (Jǐngchá fá le wǒ 200 kuài.)
  • Rule: The structure is `Verb (罚) + Object (who) + Amount`. The second character `款` can be added at the end or, more commonly, omitted.
• 罚款 (fákuǎn) vs. 罚金 (fájīn): These are not interchangeable.
  • 罚款 (fákuǎn): An administrative fine. This is for things like traffic violations, littering, or breaking company rules. It's handed out by police, government agencies, or organizations. This is the one you'll encounter 99% of the time.
  • 罚金 (fájīn): A criminal fine. This is a more serious financial penalty imposed by a court of law as part of a criminal sentence.
• 罚款 (fákuǎn) vs. 赔偿 (péicháng): This is a critical distinction between punishment and compensation.
  • 罚款 (fákuǎn): Punishment money paid to an authority (e.g., the government).
  • 赔偿 (péicháng): Compensation money paid to a victim for a loss or damages.
  • Example: If you run a red light and hit another car, you must pay a 罚款 to the traffic police for breaking the law, and you must pay 赔偿 to the other driver for the damage to their car.

• 处罚 (chǔfá) - To punish; punishment. A much broader term that includes fines, but also other non-monetary punishments like a warning or detention.
• 罚金 (fájīn) - A criminal fine imposed by a court, distinct from an administrative `罚款`.
• 违章 (wéizhāng) - To violate regulations. This is the action that often leads to a `罚款`, especially in traffic contexts (e.g., `违章停车` - illegal parking).
• 滞纳金 (zhìnàjīn) - A late fee or surcharge. A more specific type of fine for paying a bill or fee after the deadline.
• 交 (jiāo) - To pay, hand over, submit. This is the standard verb used for paying a fine: `交罚款 (jiāo fákuǎn)`.
• 没收 (mòshōu) - To confiscate, to seize. Another form of official punishment where property is taken away.
• 超速 (chāosù) - To speed; speeding. A very common reason to receive a `罚款`.
• 闯红灯 (chuǎng hóngdēng) - To run a red light (literally “to crash the red light”). Another common traffic violation.
• 罚单 (fádān) - A ticket (for a fine); a citation. This is the physical or electronic piece of paper that details your `罚款`. `单 (dān)` means “slip” or “bill”.
• 扣分 (kòu fēn) - To deduct points. In China's traffic system, you not only get a `罚款` but also have points deducted from your driver's license.