刑 罰(けいばつ)

けいばつ

noun

criminal punishment; penalty

formallaw

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

Related Words

Related: 罰(ばつ) (punishment (general))

Compare: 処罰(しょばつ) (punishment, penalization)

Compare: 罰則(ばっそく) (penal provisions)

Related: 罰(ばっ)する (to punish, to penalize)

Compare: 刑事責任(けいじせきにん) (criminal liability)

general

Added 2026.3.30 3:10 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

20500/20566_keibatsu