贈収賄

• Reading: ぞうしゅうわい
• Romaji: zōshūwai
• Kanji breakdown: 贈 (zō) — give, present; 収 (shū) — receive, collect; 賄 (wai) — bribe, provisions
• Pronunciation: /zoː.ɕɯː.wa.i/

Meaning

Bribery; graft; corruption. The combined offence of giving and receiving bribes, typically involving public officials or corporate actors.

A legal and journalistic term combining 贈賄 (zokai, offering a bribe) and 収賄 (shukai, accepting a bribe). It frequently appears in news reports of political scandals and corporate corruption. The Criminal Code distinguishes between 収賄罪 (the public official's crime) and 贈賄罪 (the giver's crime); 贈収賄 encompasses both. Compliance training in Japanese companies routinely covers 贈収賄 prevention.

Examples

1. 公共工事をめぐる贈収賄事件が発覚し、市長と建設会社の幹部が逮捕された。 A bribery scandal involving public works contracts came to light, leading to the arrest of the mayor and senior executives of a construction company.
2. 贈収賄を防止するための社内コンプライアンス研修を年二回実施している。 We conduct in-house compliance training on bribery prevention twice a year.
3. 国際的な贈収賄規制の強化により、海外での商慣行の見直しが急務となった。 With the tightening of international anti-bribery regulations, reviewing overseas business practices has become an urgent matter.

Usage Guide

Context: law, politics, compliance, journalism

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Combination of 贈賄 (zokai, bribe-giving, from 贈る to present + 賄 bribe/payment) and 収賄 (shukai, bribe-taking, from 収める to receive + 賄). The compound captures both sides of the transaction.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated