监狱
jiānyù
The English word "jail" is translated into Chinese as 监狱 (jiānyù).
If you want to describe the specific confinement area or the cell within a facility, you would use 牢房. To say that someone is "in jail", use the phrase 在监狱里.
Meaning: place for short-term confinement (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The second character, 狱, means prison or jail.
How do you pronounce it?
jiānyù
Did you know?
- In colloquial speech, people often use the word 坐牢 to say someone is in jail. The verb 坐 literally means 'to sit', suggesting that the prisoner is 'sitting' through their sentence.
- Historically, the term 牢 referred to livestock pens, which explains why the word carries a gritty connotation of being caged like an animal.
- Chinese distinguishes between 监狱 for formal prisons and 看守所 for detention centers. A person in a 看守所 is often not yet convicted, meaning they are 'being watched' rather than 'imprisoned'.
Examples in context
- 你去过监狱吗？Have you ever been in jail?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has ever been in 监狱.Tatoeba #8686687 by crescat, translation #6898671 by CK
- 你在监狱里呆了多久？How long were you in jail?This sentence is useful for asking how long someone stayed in 监狱.Tatoeba #5660519 by verdastelo9604, translation #5478202 by CK
- 他因为犯罪被送入了 监狱 。He was sent to jail for the crime he committed.
- 小偷被抓住后，关进了 牢房 。After the thief was caught, he was put into the jail.
- 佢入咗 监狱 五年。He has been in jail for five years.
- 那个人被关进了监狱。Nà ge rén bèi guān jìn le jiānyù.That person was put into jail.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a crime drama on television.
- 雨婷 Yuting这个故事里的主角最后进了监狱吗？Zhège gùshì lǐ de zhǔjué zuìhòu jìn le jiānyù ma?Did the main character in this story end up in jail?
- 伟 Wei是的，他在监狱里待了很久。Shì de, tā zài jiānyù lǐ dàile hěn jiǔ.Yes, he stayed in jail for a long time.
- 雨婷 Yuting太可惜了，他看起来并不坏。Tài kěxiàn le, tā kàn qǐlái bìng bù huài.That's such a pity, he doesn't look like a bad person.
- 伟 Wei生活总是有很多意外。Shēnghuó zǒng shì yǒu hěnduō yìwài.Life is always full of surprises.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
