verb HSK 4
Traditional 罰
to punish · to penalize · to fine
Meaning
罚 means to impose a penalty or punishment on someone for breaking rules or laws. It commonly refers to fines, sanctions, or other disciplinary actions in legal, educational, sports, or workplace contexts.
Usage
This verb is frequently used in formal and semi-formal contexts when discussing penalties or punishments. It often appears in compound words like 罚款 (fákuǎn, to fine) or 处罚 (chǔfá, to punish). In sports, 罚球 means penalty kick or free throw.
Examples
- 01他因为违反交通规则被罚了两百块钱。.He was fined 200 yuan for violating traffic regulations.
- 02老师罚他抄写课文十遍。.The teacher punished him by making him copy the text ten times.
Common collocations
- 罚款to fine, to impose a fine
- 罚球penalty kick, free throw
- 处罚to punish, to impose a penalty
- 罚站to make someone stand as punishment
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 罰 contains the radical 网 (net) and 言 (speech), suggesting the idea of catching wrongdoing through proclamation or judgment.