Chinese word

扣押

Pronunciation

Pinyinkòu yā

Meaning

  • verbconfiscate

Example

海关扣押了那批违禁品。hǎi guān kòu yā le nà pī wéi jìn pǐn

Customs confiscated that batch of prohibited goods.

Illustration for 扣押 (confiscate)

More examples

警方在调查中扣押了嫌疑人的手机和电脑。jǐng fāng zài diào chá zhōng kòu yā le xián yí rén de shǒu jī hé diàn nǎo

During the investigation, the police confiscated the suspect's phone and computer.

Core concept

An official hand stops an object from moving freely while keeping it for a legal purpose.

Common phrases

  • 扣押证据kòu yā zhèng jù

    confiscate evidence

  • 扣押货物kòu yā huò wù

    confiscate goods

  • 扣押账户kòu yā zhàng hù

    seize an account

Similar words

扣留kòu liú: Keep a person or object in temporary official custody and prevent free movement or use.
没收mò shōu: Take illegal goods or unlawfully obtained property permanently for government disposal.
查封chá fēng: Close and seal a place or facility so that people cannot enter or conduct business.
查扣chá kòu: Take possession of objects during an investigation and keep them safe as evidence.

Definition in Chinese

国家机关或有权机关以调查、保管或作为证据为目的，暂时收走并限制某物的使用或流通的行为。guó jiā jī guān huò yǒu quán jī guān yǐ diào chá báo guǎn huò zuò wéi zhèng jù wèi mù dì zàn shí shōu zǒu bìng xiàn zhì mǒu wù de shǐ yòng huò liú tōng de xíng wéi

Word origin

扣押 (kòuyā, "to seize and hold") joins 扣 (kòu, "hold down") and 押 (yā, "keep in custody"), so the compound presents property as firmly held under authority.

Usage tips

  • English wording can suggest that property is lost forever, but this Chinese term focuses on official detention that can be temporary.

Opposites

Related words

  • 扣押物kòu yā wùconfiscated propertynoun
  • 扣押款项kòu yā kuǎn xiàngconfiscated fundsnoun

Word lists with this word