Chinese word

违法

Pronunciation

Pinyinwéi fǎ

Meaning

  • verbbreak the law

Example

公司违法排放污水被罚了。gōng sī wéi fǎ pái fàng wū shuǐ bèi fá le

The company broke the law by discharging wastewater and was fined.

Illustration for 违法 (break the law)

More examples

个人如果违法使用公共资源，会被追责。gè rén rú guǒ wéi fǎ shǐ yòng gōng gòng zī yuán huì bèi zhuī zé

If a person uses public resources illegally, they will be held accountable.

Core concept

Conduct that crosses a boundary set by law and enters what the law does not permit.

Common phrases

  • 违法使用wéi fǎ shǐ yòng

    use illegally

  • 违法收购wéi fǎ shōu gòu

    acquire illegally

Similar words

违反wéi fǎn: Goes against a law, rule, regulation, or promise.
触犯chù fàn: Violates a law or right in a way that may create penalties or legal responsibility.
犯法fàn fǎ: Violates criminal law and may result in criminal punishment.
违规wéi guī: Goes against a rule or regulation and may result in official discipline.

Definition in Chinese

违反法律规定，做出法律禁止的行为。wéi fǎn fǎ lǜ guī dìng zuò chū fǎ lǜ jìn zhǐ de xíng wéi

Word origin

违法 (wéifǎ, "to violate the law") combines 违 (wéi, "to go against") + 法 (fǎ, "law"), giving a direct image of conduct that goes against legal rules.

Usage tips

  • 违法 (wéifǎ, "to violate the law") can describe a rule-breaking act without stating that it is a criminal offense, so it covers more than cases leading to criminal punishment.

Other meanings

  • illegaladjective

Opposites

  • 守法shóu fǎobey the lawverb

Related words

  • 违法性wéi fǎ xìngillegalitynoun
  • 违法行为wéi fǎ xíng wéiillegal conductnoun

Word lists with this word