罚

• Pinyin: fá
• Hanzi breakdown: 罚 = 罒 (net radical) + phonetic component; simplified from 罰

Meaning

To punish; to penalize; to fine. Used for imposing penalties or punishment.

General verb for punishment, whether monetary fines, disciplinary actions, or other penalties. Used in both official and casual contexts for any form of punishment.

Examples

1. 迟到三次要被罚站十分钟。 Being late three times means you'll be punished by standing for ten minutes.
2. 交警罚了他两百块钱。 The traffic police fined him two hundred yuan.
3. 输了比赛的人要被罚唱歌。 Whoever loses the game has to sing as punishment.

Usage Guide

Context: discipline, law, games

Tone: authoritative

Do Say

• 你违规了，要罚你十块钱。(You broke the rules — we're fining you ten yuan.)
• 老师罚他抄课文三遍。(The teacher punished him by making him copy the text three times.)

Don't Say

• 我罚了他一个道歉 (Don't use 罚 for extracting apologies — use 让/要求 instead; 罚 implies a penalty, not a request)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic character with 罒 (net radical, implying catching wrongdoers) and 詈 phonetic component.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal