Chinese word

监狱

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiān yù

Meaning

  • nounprison

Example

他因盗窃被判刑，送进了监狱。tā yīn dào qiè bèi pàn xíng sòng jìn le jiān yù

He was sentenced for theft and sent to prison.

Illustration for 监狱 (prison)

More examples

许多囚犯在监狱生活中努力改造自己。xǔ duō qiú fàn zài jiān yù shēng huó zhōng nǔ lì gǎi zào zì jǐ

Many prisoners work hard to better themselves while in prison.

Core concept

A sealed institution that keeps sentenced offenders apart from the public while their punishment is carried out.

Common phrases

  • 送进监狱sòng jìn jiān yù

    send to prison

  • 监狱生活jiān yù shēng huó

    prison life

  • 监狱管理jiān yù guán lǐ

    prison management

Similar words

牢房láo fáng: A small prison room where a prisoner sleeps, eats, and lives.
看守所kān shóu suǒ: A facility where police keep arrested people for a short time.
拘留所jū liú suǒ: A facility for briefly holding people after minor violations or during legal procedures.

Definition in Chinese

关押和执行刑罚罪犯的封闭性机构，由司法系统负责管理和监督在押人员并执行判决。guān yā hé zhí xíng xíng fá zuì fàn de fēng bì xìng jī gòu yóu sī fǎ xì tǒng fù zé guán lǐ hé jiān dū zài yā rén yuán bìng zhí xíng pàn jué

Word origin

监 (jiān, "watch over") + 狱 (yù, "prison") combine to name a place where people are kept under supervision as they serve sentences.

Usage tips

  • English often uses prison for a sentenced person's institution and jail for shorter or local detention, so prison is the closer choice when the sentence is already established.

Opposites

Related words

  • 监狱长jiān yù zhǎngprison wardennoun
  • 监狱制度jiān yù zhì dùprison systemnoun

Word lists with this word