zǒusī: 走私 - To Smuggle, Smuggling

• Keywords: 走私, zousi, zǒusī, smuggle in Chinese, smuggling Chinese, illegal trade China, customs evasion, what is zousi, how to say smuggle in Chinese, Chinese black market, contraband
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word for smuggling, 走私 (zǒusī). This term refers to the serious crime of illegally transporting goods across borders to evade customs duties (tariffs) or import/export restrictions. From historical contexts like the Opium Wars to modern-day trafficking of luxury items and electronics, understanding zǒusī is key to grasping concepts of law, trade, and the black market in China. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural weight, and practical use with clear examples.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zǒusī
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To illegally import or export goods; the act of smuggling.
• In a Nutshell: 走私 (zǒusī) is the direct and unambiguous Chinese term for “smuggling.” It's a compound word that literally means “to walk privately,” vividly capturing the idea of moving goods secretly to bypass official inspection. It is always a negative term, referring to a criminal activity with serious legal consequences.

• 走 (zǒu): This character's primary meaning is “to walk” or “to go.” It signifies the physical act of movement and transportation inherent in smuggling.
• 私 (sī): This character means “private,” “secret,” or “illicit.” It implies an action done outside of official, public channels and often with selfish or illegal intent.
• The two characters combine to form a very logical concept: 走 (to move) + 私 (secretly/privately) = 走私 (to smuggle). It's the act of moving things in a clandestine, unofficial manner.

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”).

• As a Verb: It describes the action of smuggling. For example, `他们试图走私黄金。` (They attempted to smuggle gold.)
• As a Noun: It refers to the crime itself. For example, `走私是违法行为。` (Smuggling is an illegal act.)
• In Compounds: It forms other common words:
  • 走私犯 (zǒusīfàn): a smuggler (the person)
  • 走私货 (zǒusīhuò): smuggled goods (the items)
  • 反走私 (fǎn zǒusī): anti-smuggling (the official action)

The term is frequently seen in news reports about customs seizures, police investigations, and international crime.

• Example 1:
  • 他因走私毒品被判了无期徒刑。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīn zǒusī dúpǐn bèi pànle wúqī túxíng.
  • English: He was sentenced to life in prison for smuggling drugs.
  • Analysis: This shows 走私 used as a noun to describe the crime. The context is very serious and formal.
• Example 2:
  • 海关最近查获了一批走私香烟。
  • Pinyin: Hǎiguān zuìjìn cháhuòle yī pī zǒusī xiāngyān.
  • English: Customs recently seized a batch of smuggled cigarettes.
  • Analysis: Here, 走私 acts as an adjective modifying “cigarettes,” effectively meaning “smuggled.”
• Example 3:
  • 那个走私犯试图贿赂海关官员。
  • Pinyin: Nàge zǒusīfàn shìtú huìlù hǎiguān guānyuán.
  • English: That smuggler tried to bribe the customs official.
  • Analysis: This example uses the compound word 走私犯 (zǒusīfàn), which means “smuggler.”
• Example 4:
  • 为了逃避高额关税，一些公司选择走私电子产品。
  • Pinyin: Wèile táobì gāo'é guānshuì, yīxiē gōngsī xuǎnzé zǒusī diànzǐ chǎnpǐn.
  • English: In order to evade high tariffs, some companies choose to smuggle electronic products.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly explains the most common motivation for modern commercial smuggling. 走私 is used as a verb here.
• Example 5:
  • 政府正在加强反走私的力度。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài jiāqiáng fǎn zǒusī de lìdù.
  • English: The government is strengthening anti-smuggling efforts.
  • Analysis: This uses the term 反走私 (fǎn zǒusī), meaning “anti-smuggling,” a common term in official reports and news.
• Example 6:
  • 你买的这个名牌包不会是走私货吧？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ mǎi de zhège míngpái bāo bù huì shì zǒusīhuò ba?
  • English: This designer bag you bought isn't smuggled goods, is it?
  • Analysis: This shows an informal, conversational use, with the speaker expressing suspicion. It uses the compound 走私货 (zǒusīhuò), meaning “smuggled goods.”
• Example 7:
  • 他们利用渔船在夜间走私。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen lìyòng yúchuán zài yèjiān zǒusī.
  • English: They use fishing boats to smuggle at night.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence using 走私 as a verb, describing the method of the crime.
• Example 8:
  • 历史上，鸦片走私给中国带来了巨大的灾难。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ shàng, yāpiàn zǒusī gěi Zhōngguó dàiláile jùdà de zāinàn.
  • English: Historically, opium smuggling brought enormous disaster to China.
  • Analysis: This example places the word in its significant historical context. Here, 走私 is used as a noun.
• Example 9:
  • 走私珍稀动物是严重破坏生态平衡的犯罪行为。
  • Pinyin: Zǒusī zhēnxī dòngwù shì yánzhòng pòhuài shēngtài pínghéng de fànzuì xíngwéi.
  • English: Smuggling rare animals is a criminal act that severely damages ecological balance.
  • Analysis: This highlights another type of smuggling beyond commercial goods.
• Example 10:
  • 任何形式的走私活动都将受到法律的严惩。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé xíngshì de zǒusī huódòng dōu jiāng shòudào fǎlǜ de yánchéng.
  • English: Any form of smuggling activity will be severely punished by the law.
  • Analysis: A formal, declarative sentence you might see on a government warning sign or in a legal document.

• False Friends: 走私 vs. 偷渡 (tōudù)
  • A very common mistake for learners is to confuse 走私 (zǒusī) with 偷渡 (tōudù).
  • 走私 (zǒusī) is exclusively for goods, products, and items.
  • 偷渡 (tōudù) is exclusively for people illegally crossing a border.
  • Incorrect: `他走私到美国。` (He smuggled to America.) → This implies he smuggled goods.
  • Correct: `他偷渡到美国。` (Tā tōudù dào Měiguó.) → He illegally immigrated to America.
  • Correct: `他往美国走私汽车。` (Tā wǎng Měiguó zǒusī qìchē.) → He smuggled cars to America.
• Scale and Intent Matter
  • While technically bringing an extra bottle of liquor through customs without declaring it is a form of smuggling, the word 走私 is usually reserved for acts with clear criminal intent, especially those on a commercial scale or involving highly illegal items (like drugs or weapons). For a minor infraction, a customs officer is more likely to use a term like 违规 (wéiguī), “to violate regulations.” Using 走私 for a small, personal mistake would sound overly dramatic.

• 偷渡 (tōudù) - To cross a border illegally (for people). The “people” equivalent of 走私.
• 海关 (hǎiguān) - Customs. The government agency that smugglers try to evade.
• 关税 (guānshuì) - Tariff, customs duty. The tax that commercial smugglers are often trying to avoid paying.
• 水货 (shuǐhuò) - “Water goods”; grey-market products. These are goods imported via unofficial channels, which are often smuggled. This term refers to the product, whereas 走私 refers to the act.
• 黑市 (hēishì) - Black market. The broader illegal market where smuggled goods are often sold.
• 贩毒 (fàndú) - To traffic drugs. A specific, and very serious, type of 走私.
• 违法 (wéifǎ) - To break the law; illegal. A general term. 走私 is a specific type of 违法 act.
• 犯罪 (fànzuì) - To commit a crime; a crime. A more serious and formal general term than 违法. 走私 is a type of 犯罪.
• 违禁品 (wéijìnpǐn) - Contraband; prohibited items. The goods that are illegal to import/export, regardless of tariffs.