A2 noun Formal 1 min read

违法

weifa /wéi fǎ/
Practice it

Illegal acts are those that contradict the established laws of a country.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Refers to actions that break the law.
  • Used in both legal and everyday contexts.
  • Often used to describe prohibited activities.

Overview

  1. 1概述：违法是一个法律术语，其核心含义是“违反法律”。它不仅指触犯刑法，也涵盖了违反民法、行政法等所有法律规范的行为。在中文语境中，它可以作为动词（如：他违法了），也可以作为形容词（如：违法行为）。2) 用法模式：常见结构为“违法+名词”（如违法行为、违法乱纪）或“主语+违法”（如他的做法违法）。在正式场合，常使用“违法违规”这一连用形式。3) 常见语境：主要用于新闻报道、政府公告、法律文书及日常警示。例如，在交通规则、商业合同或公共秩序讨论中，人们常会提到“违法”以强调行为的严重性。4) 近义词辨析：“违法”侧重于违反法律条文；“犯罪”则更严重，特指触犯刑法并应受刑罚处罚的行为；“违规”则指违反内部规章制度，法律后果通常较轻。

Examples

1

酒后驾车是违法行为。

everyday

Drunk driving is an illegal act.

2

该公司的经营活动涉嫌违法。

formal

The company's business activities are suspected of being illegal.

3

别做违法的事，不然会坐牢的。

informal

Don't do anything illegal, or you will go to jail.

4

从法律角度分析，该合同条款存在违法嫌疑。

academic

From a legal perspective, the contract clause is suspected of being illegal.

Common Collocations

违法行为 Illegal act
违法乱纪 Breaking the law and violating discipline
触犯法律 Break the law

Common Phrases

违法犯罪

Illegal and criminal activities

严厉打击违法行为

Severely crack down on illegal activities

知法犯法

To break the law knowingly

Often Confused With

违法 vs 违规

Refers to breaking internal rules or regulations, not necessarily state laws. It is generally less severe than '违法'.

违法 vs 犯罪

A specific type of illegal act that violates the Criminal Law. It carries much heavier legal consequences.

Grammar Patterns

主语 + 是 + 违法(的) 违法 + 名词 涉嫌 + 违法

How to Use It

Usage Notes

The word '违法' is neutral in tone but carries a serious weight. It is widely used in both formal legal contexts and everyday conversations. Always ensure the context involves a specific rule or law when using this term.

Common Mistakes

Beginners often confuse '违法' with '犯罪'. Remember that not all illegal acts are crimes. Also, avoid using '违法' to describe simple moral failures.

Tips

💡

Use with nouns for clarity

Pair '违法' with nouns like '行为' (behavior) or '乱纪' (discipline) to make your sentences sound more professional and precise.

⚠️

Distinguish from moral judgment

Remember that '违法' refers to legal status, not necessarily moral judgment. An action can be legal but immoral, or illegal but seen as morally necessary by some.

🌍

Strict legal compliance in China

In China, the concept of '违法' is strictly enforced through public education and media. It is frequently used in public service announcements to maintain social order.

Word Origin

The term is composed of '违' (to violate/go against) and '法' (law/rule). It reflects the ancient Chinese concept of maintaining order through strict adherence to established codes.

Cultural Context

In Chinese society, '违法' is a very strong label that carries social stigma. Public awareness campaigns often use this term to deter people from breaking traffic, environmental, or commercial laws.

Memory Tip

Think of '违' (violate) + '法' (law). If you violate the law, you are '违法'.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

“违法”范围更广，指任何违反法律的行为。而“犯罪”特指严重程度较高、触犯刑法并需要承担刑事责任的行为。

可以。例如“违法行为”中，“违法”就是形容词，用来修饰“行为”。

口语中通常说“这样做是违法的”，用来提醒他人注意法律界限。

视具体行为而定。轻微的违法可能面临罚款，严重的违法则可能涉及行政拘留甚至刑事处罚。

Test Yourself

fill blank

这种为了赚钱而欺骗消费者的行为是___的。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 违法

欺骗消费者属于损害他人利益的行为，在法律上是被禁止的。

multiple choice

下列哪个词与“违法”意思最接近？

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 违规

“违规”和“违法”都表示不符合既定规则，是较接近的同类词。

sentence building

行为 / 违法 / 这种 / 是 / 的

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 这种行为是违法的

标准的中文句式结构是“主语+系动词+形容词”。

Score: /3

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