Definitions

chéng (verb) to punish; to reprimand

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character , a simplified version of , is a phono-semantic compound. Its meaning component is the heart radical , which points to internal emotions and psychological states. The sound is provided by in the simplified form, while the traditional form uses . Altogether, the character means to punish or penalize someone for a wrongdoing, with the underlying implication of a warning meant to deter future misconduct and encourage moral reform.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他受到了罚。

Tā shòu dào le chéngfá.

He was punished.

学校罚了坏学生。

Xuéxiào chéngfá le huài xuéshēng.

The school punished the bad student.

因为迟到,他被罚了。

Yīnwèi chídào, tā bèi chéngfá le.

Because he was late, he was punished.

政府决心治腐败。

Zhèngfǔ juéxīn chéngzhì fǔbài.

The government is determined to punish corruption.

如果违反规则,你将受到严厉罚。

Rúguǒ wéifǎn guīzé, nǐ jiāng shòu dào yánlì chéngfá.

If you break the rules, you will face severe punishment.

法律对犯罪行为有明确的处规定。

Fǎlǜ duì fànzuì xíngwéi yǒu míngquè de chéngchǔ guīdìng.

The law has clear provisions for punishing criminal acts.

为了维护社会公正,必须严不法分子。

Wèile wéihù shèhuì gōngzhèng, bìxū yánchéng bùfǎ fènzǐ.

In order to maintain social justice, it is necessary to severely punish lawless elements.

通过对违法者的处,社会得以警示他人并预防犯罪。

Tōngguò duì wéifǎ zhě de chéngchǔ, shèhuì déyǐ jǐngshì tārén bìng yùfáng fànzuì.

Through the punishment of offenders, society can warn others and prevent crime.