Meaning
This is a legal term referring to a prison sentence with no fixed end date, essentially imprisonment for the remainder of the convict's natural life. In Chinese law, it is one of the most severe punishments below the death penalty.
Usage
This term is primarily used in formal legal contexts such as court verdicts, news reports about criminal cases, and legal documents. It represents a permanent incarceration sentence, though in practice some jurisdictions may allow for parole after a minimum period (typically 13 years in mainland China). The term is always serious and formal in register.
Examples
- 01法院判决他无期徒刑。.The court sentenced him to life imprisonment.
- 02这名罪犯因谋杀罪被处以无期徒刑。.This criminal was given a life sentence for murder.
Characters
Common collocations
- 被判无期徒刑to be sentenced to life imprisonment
- 处以无期徒刑to impose a life sentence
- 无期徒刑犯life prisoner
Antonyms
Origin
The term literally means 'punishment without a fixed period.' 徒刑 (túxíng) historically referred to penal servitude or imprisonment, while 无期 (wúqī) means 'without a term/deadline,' distinguishing it from fixed-term sentences like 有期徒刑 (yǒuqī túxíng).