罪恶

• Pinyin: zuì è
• Hanzi breakdown: 罪 = crime/sin; 恶 = 亚 (second-rate) + 心 (heart), meaning evil/wicked

Meaning

Sin; evil; wickedness; crime and wrongdoing.

A strong term encompassing both criminal acts and moral evil. Used to describe serious wrongdoing, atrocities, or deeply immoral behavior. More emphatic and morally charged than 罪 alone.

Examples

1. 战争给无辜的平民带来了深重的罪恶，这段历史不能被遗忘。 War brought profound evil upon innocent civilians — this history must not be forgotten.
2. 他的内心充满了罪恶感，多年来一直无法原谅自己。 His heart is filled with guilt; for years he has been unable to forgive himself.
3. 揭露社会中的罪恶现象是新闻记者的重要职责之一。 Exposing evil phenomena in society is one of the important duties of journalists.

Usage Guide

Context: moral, historical, literary

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 战争是罪恶的。(War is evil.)
• 他深感罪恶。(He feels deeply guilty.)

Don't Say

• 迟到是一种罪恶。(Too strong for minor faults — use 错误 or 不好)

Origin & History

Compound of 罪 (crime, sin) and 恶 (evil, wicked). Together they form an emphatic term for evil and wrongdoing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal