非法 fēifǎ illegal
How to remember 非法: 非 not + 法 law = illegal.
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How it is used
- Illegal / unlawful - 非法经营 (fēifǎ jīngyíng) illegal business operation.
- An attributive prefix on many crimes: 非法集资, 非法入侵, 非法所得 (ill-gotten gains).
- Opposite of 合法 (héfǎ, legal); more formal/legal than saying something 犯法 (breaks the law) - 合法收入 (héfǎ shōurù) legal income.