惩罚

• Pinyin: chéng fá
• Hanzi breakdown: 惩 = 征 (phonetic) + 心 (heart) = to punish; 罚 = 罒 (net) + 言 (speech) + 刂 (knife) = to penalize

Meaning

To punish; punishment. The act of penalizing someone for wrongdoing.

More commonly used than 惩处, applicable in both formal and informal contexts. Can be used for legal punishments, parental discipline, or any form of penalty.

Examples

1. 父母不应该用体罚来惩罚孩子。 Parents should not use corporal punishment to discipline their children.
2. 他因为迟到受到了老师的惩罚。 He was punished by the teacher for being late.
3. 犯错就要接受惩罚，这是最基本的道理。 If you make a mistake, you must accept punishment — that's the most basic principle.

Usage Guide

Context: education, parenting, law, general

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他受到了应有的惩罚。(He received the punishment he deserved.)
• 这种行为必须受到惩罚。(This kind of behavior must be punished.)

Don't Say

• 我惩罚了一下蛋糕 (惩罚 is only for punishing people/animals, not objects)

Origin & History

Compound of 惩 (to punish) and 罚 (to penalize). Both characters relate to punishment, creating emphasis.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal