刑罰(けいばつ)

けいばつ
noun
criminal punishment; penalty
1. criminal punishment; penalty; penal sanction
A punishment imposed by law for committing a crime, including fines, imprisonment, and other legal penalties.
厳(きび)しい刑罰(けいばつ)が科(か)される。
A severe punishment is imposed.
刑罰(けいばつ)の目的(もくてき)は犯罪(はんざい)の抑止(よくし)だ。
The purpose of criminal punishment is the deterrence of crime.
この国(くに)では薬物(やくぶつ)犯罪(はんざい)に対(たい)する刑罰(けいばつ)が非常(ひじょう)に重(おも)い。
In this country, criminal punishments for drug offenses are extremely heavy.

A formal legal term composed of 刑(けい) (punishment/penalty) and 罰(ばつ) (punishment). Used primarily in legal, political, and academic contexts when discussing the justice system.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 刑罰(けいばつ)を科(か)す: to impose a punishment
  • 刑罰(けいばつ)を受(う)ける: to receive a punishment
  • 刑罰(けいばつ)を軽(かる)くする: to lighten a punishment
  • 厳(きび)しい刑罰(けいばつ): severe punishment
  • 刑罰(けいばつ)制度(せいど): penal system

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 罰(ばつ): punishment — more general, used for any punishment including informal ones
  • 刑(けい): sentence, penalty — the specific court-imposed sentence (e.g., 懲役(ちょうえき)刑(けい) "prison sentence")
  • 処罰(しょばつ): punishment, penalization — slightly broader, includes disciplinary actions
  • 罰則(ばっそく): penal provisions — the rules defining punishments in law
general
Added 2026.3.30 3:10
20500/20566_keibatsu