Chinese character · HSK 6
罪 (zuì) — “sin / crime”
The character is composed of a net (罒) above and 'wrong' (非) below; representing the net of justice catching wrongdoers.
How to remember 罪
The net (罒) of justice falls upon those who do wrong (非), ensuring no crime escapes.
Inside the character
- 网 (net) — meaning component. A woven net — often marks nets, traps, or anything ensnaring.
- 非 (not / wrong) — meaning component. Often marks negation or acts as a sound piece in beginner words.
Where 罪 comes from
Originally written as 辠 (nose/self + bitter needle for tattooing criminals). Emperor Qin Shi Huang changed it to 罪 (net + wrong) because the original form looked too similar to his royal title '皇' (emperor).
Words that use 罪
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 犯罪 | fàn zuì | to commit a crime / crime | HSK 6 |
| 罪恶 | zuì è | crime / evil | HSK 6 |
| 罪犯 | zuì fàn | criminal | HSK 7 |
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More characters: 西 (xī, west) · 针 (zhēn, needle) · 问 (wèn, to ask) — or browse the full character library.