処罰する

• Reading: しょばつする
• Romaji: shobatsusuru
• Kanji breakdown: 処 (sho) — deal with, handle; 罰 (batsu) — punishment, penalty
• Pronunciation: /ɕo.ba.tsɯ.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To punish; to penalise; to impose a penalty on someone for wrongdoing.

A する verb meaning to administer punishment, typically in legal, institutional, or disciplinary contexts. Stronger and more formal than 罰する alone. Often used in news reports about legal sentences, corporate disciplinary actions, or school punishments.

Examples

1. 法律に違反した者は厳しく処罰される。 Those who break the law will be severely punished.
2. 不正を行った社員を処罰する方針が発表された。 A policy of penalizing employees who engaged in misconduct was announced.
3. 処罰を恐れて誰も本当のことを言わなかった。 Afraid of punishment, no one told the truth.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, disciplinary, news

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 処 (sho, deal with/handle) + 罰 (batsu, punishment/penalty). Literally 'to deal out punishment,' combining administrative handling with punitive action.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal