自首 zìshǒu to give oneself up
to give oneself up; to surrender (to the authorities)
How to remember 自首: 自 self + 首 head = to give oneself up.
Characters
How it is used
- To turn oneself in to the authorities - 主动向警方自首 (zhǔdòng xiàng jǐngfāng zìshǒu) to voluntarily surrender to police.
- A legal term; voluntary surrender can bring a lighter sentence under Chinese law.
- Distinct from 投降 (tóuxiáng, military surrender).