刑事 xíngshì criminal
criminal; penal
How to remember 刑事: 刑 punishment + 事 matter = criminal.
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How it is used
- 'Criminal (legal)' - 刑事案件 (xíngshì ànjiàn) a criminal case, 刑事责任 (xíngshì zérèn) criminal liability.
- A legal category term; the standard contrast is 民事 (mínshì, civil). The 刑事/民事 pair splits criminal from civil law.