About
The character for "crime" or "sin", 罪, presents an etymological and structural history where its original form was displaced. Its earliest known representation was the character 辠, composed of 辛 (a marking tool for criminals) and 自 (originally "nose"), depicting the physical marking of a culprit. However, due to its graphical resemblance to the character for "emperor" 皇, it was abandoned in favor of the current form. The modern 罪 is a structural composite of 罒, a net, placed above 非, which means "wrong" or "to oppose", thus constructing a conceptual idea of "catching or ensnaring wrongdoing". Over time, its meaning expanded from the specific act of committing a legal offense or transgression to encompass the more abstract and moral weight of guilt and sin, reflecting a broadening from a societal judgment to an internal, spiritual burden.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他承认有罪。
这个罪名不成立。
他的罪行非常严重。
法律会惩罚犯罪的人。
证据足以证明他的罪责。
她为自己过去的罪恶感到后悔。
法官根据罪证做出了判决。
尽管他声称无罪，但所有证据都显示他有罪。