走私

• Pinyin: zǒu sī
• Hanzi breakdown: 走 = 土 (earth) + 止 (foot), to walk; 私 = 禾 (grain) + 厶 (private), meaning private/secret

Meaning

To smuggle; smuggling; illegal trafficking of goods across borders.

The illegal import or export of goods to evade taxes or trade prohibitions. Covers everything from luxury items and cigarettes to drugs and weapons. A serious criminal offense in China.

Examples

1. 海关查获了一起重大走私案，涉案金额高达数千万元。 Customs uncovered a major smuggling case involving tens of millions of yuan.
2. 走私野生动物制品不仅违法，还严重破坏生态平衡。 Smuggling wildlife products is not only illegal but also seriously damages ecological balance.
3. 边境地区加强了巡逻力度，有效打击了跨境走私活动。 Border areas have strengthened patrols, effectively cracking down on cross-border smuggling activities.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, news, law enforcement

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 这是一起走私案。(This is a smuggling case.)
• 走私毒品是重罪。(Drug smuggling is a serious crime.)

Don't Say

• 我从超市走私了一根香蕉。(Don't use 走私 for petty theft — it's for cross-border smuggling)

Origin & History

Compound of 走 (to walk, to go) and 私 (private, secret). Together they describe secretly moving goods — i.e., smuggling.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal