Chinese Grammar Reference logo

    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'imprisonment' with 监禁 (jiānjìn)

    Actions & Events
    Result & Consequence

    Structure

    Time Duration + 监禁

    Explanation

    The word 监禁 (jiānjìn) means 'imprisonment' or 'to imprison,' referring to the confinement of a person in prison as punishment. It can function as both a verb and a noun. In legal contexts, it often appears with a time duration, as in 九年监禁 (nine years of imprisonment).

    Examples

    • 法官判了他三年监禁。

      Fǎguān pànle tā sān nián jiānjìn.

      The judge sentenced him to three years in prison.

    • 非法持有武器可能会被处以监禁。

      Fēifǎ chíyǒu wǔqì kěnéng huì bèi chǔyǐ jiānjìn.

      Illegal possession of weapons may result in imprisonment.

    • 他因为诈骗被监禁了五年。

      Tā yīnwèi zhàpiàn bèi jiānjìnle wǔ nián.

      He was imprisoned for five years for fraud.

    Often Confused With

    Expressing 'imprisonment' with 监禁 (jiānjìn) | Chinese Grammar