判处

• Pinyin: pàn chǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 判 = 半 + 刀 (divide and decide); 处 = 夂 + 几 (deal with, handle, impose)

Meaning

Sentence; to officially impose a legal punishment on a convicted person through a judicial ruling.

Strictly a legal term used in court rulings. Always followed by the specific penalty imposed, such as imprisonment, fines, or capital punishment. The subject is always a court or judicial authority.

Examples

1. 法院判处被告有期徒刑十年。 The court sentenced the defendant to ten years in prison.
2. 该嫌疑人被判处缓刑并处以高额罚款。 The suspect was given a suspended sentence and a hefty fine.
3. 法官根据充分证据判处两名主犯无期徒刑。 Based on solid evidence, the judge sentenced the two ringleaders to life imprisonment.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, judicial

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 法院判处被告三年有期徒刑，缓期两年执行。(The court sentenced the defendant to three years' imprisonment, suspended for two years.)
• 依据相关法律，主犯被判处死刑，立即执行。(In accordance with the relevant law, the principal offender was sentenced to death with immediate execution.)

Don't Say

• 老师判处学生罚站 — use 罚 or 惩罚 for informal punishments; 判处 is exclusively a judicial and legal term

Origin & History

判 (judge, decide) + 处 (deal with, impose a penalty)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal