Chinese word

合法

Pronunciation

Pinyinhé fǎ

Meaning

  • adjectivelegal

Example

这样做合法吗？zhè yàng zuò hé fǎ ma

Is it legal to do this?

Illustration for 合法 (legal)

More examples

合法权益受到法律保护。hé fǎ quán yì shòu dào fǎ lǜ bǎo hù

Legal rights are protected by law.

Core concept

A green light from the law for an act or arrangement.

Common phrases

  • 合法权益hé fǎ quán yì

    lawful rights

  • 合法手续hé fǎ shǒu xù

    lawful procedures

  • 合法经营hé fǎ jīng yíng

    lawful business operations

Similar words

违法wéi fǎ: Breaking the law or being forbidden by law.
非法fēi fǎ: Outside the law and lacking legal authorization.
守法shóu fǎ: Obeying the law and behaving according to its rules.

Definition in Chinese

依照法律或法规允许的，不属违法行为的。yī zhào fǎ lǜ huò fǎ guī yún xǔ de bù shǔ wéi fǎ xíng wéi de

Word origin

合 (hé, "fit") + 法 (fǎ, "law") forms 合法 (héfǎ, "lawful"), linking the idea of fitting with the rules of law.

Usage tips

  • Lawfulness does not automatically express moral approval, official endorsement, or practical safety; it reports only what the law permits.

Opposites

Related words

  • 合法性hé fǎ xìnglegalitynoun
  • 合法化hé fǎ huàlegalizeverb

Word lists with this word