Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== zǒusī: 走私 - To Smuggle, Smuggling ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 走私, zousi, zǒusī, smuggle in Chinese, smuggling Chinese, illegal trade China, customs evasion, what is zousi, how to say smuggle in Chinese, Chinese black market, contraband * **Summary:** Learn the Chinese word for smuggling, **走私 (zǒusī)**. This term refers to the serious crime of illegally transporting goods across borders to evade customs duties (tariffs) or import/export restrictions. From historical contexts like the Opium Wars to modern-day trafficking of luxury items and electronics, understanding **zǒusī** is key to grasping concepts of law, trade, and the black market in China. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural weight, and practical use with clear examples. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zǒusī * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 * **Concise Definition:** To illegally import or export goods; the act of smuggling. * **In a Nutshell:** **走私 (zǒusī)** is the direct and unambiguous Chinese term for "smuggling." It's a compound word that literally means "to walk privately," vividly capturing the idea of moving goods secretly to bypass official inspection. It is always a negative term, referring to a criminal activity with serious legal consequences. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **走 (zǒu):** This character's primary meaning is "to walk" or "to go." It signifies the physical act of movement and transportation inherent in smuggling. * **私 (sī):** This character means "private," "secret," or "illicit." It implies an action done outside of official, public channels and often with selfish or illegal intent. * The two characters combine to form a very logical concept: **走 (to move) + 私 (secretly/privately) = 走私 (to smuggle)**. It's the act of moving things in a clandestine, unofficial manner. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== Historically, **走私 (zǒusī)** carries immense weight in China, largely due to the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century. British merchants engaged in massive-scale **走私** of opium into China, leading to widespread addiction, social turmoil, and ultimately, war. This event is a cornerstone of modern Chinese history, and thus the term **走私** is tied to national sovereignty and the memory of foreign exploitation. In a modern context, **走私** is often associated with evading China's high tariffs on luxury goods (like watches, bags, and cosmetics), advanced electronics, and automobiles. This has created a thriving grey market for what are known as **水货 (shuǐhuò)**, or "water goods," which are products imported through unofficial channels. While buying **水货** might be common, the act of large-scale **走私** that brings them into the country is a serious crime prosecuted vigorously. Compared to the Western concept of the "black market," **走私 (zǒusī)** is more specific. The "black market" can refer to any illegal trade, including domestic ones. **走私** almost exclusively refers to the *cross-border* aspect of this trade—the act of illegally getting something past **海关 (hǎiguān)**, or customs. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **走私 (zǒusī)** is used in both formal legal contexts and everyday conversations, almost always with a strong negative connotation. It can function as a verb ("to smuggle") or a noun ("smuggling"). * **As a Verb:** It describes the action of smuggling. For example, `他们试图走私黄金。` (They attempted to smuggle gold.) * **As a Noun:** It refers to the crime itself. For example, `走私是违法行为。` (Smuggling is an illegal act.) * **In Compounds:** It forms other common words: * **走私犯 (zǒusīfàn):** a smuggler (the person) * **走私货 (zǒusīhuò):** smuggled goods (the items) * **反走私 (fǎn zǒusī):** anti-smuggling (the official action) The term is frequently seen in news reports about customs seizures, police investigations, and international crime. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 他因**走私**毒品被判了无期徒刑。 * Pinyin: Tā yīn **zǒusī** dúpǐn bèi pànle wúqī túxíng. * English: He was sentenced to life in prison for smuggling drugs. * Analysis: This shows **走私** used as a noun to describe the crime. The context is very serious and formal. * **Example 2:** * 海关最近查获了一批**走私**香烟。 * Pinyin: Hǎiguān zuìjìn cháhuòle yī pī **zǒusī** xiāngyān. * English: Customs recently seized a batch of smuggled cigarettes. * Analysis: Here, **走私** acts as an adjective modifying "cigarettes," effectively meaning "smuggled." * **Example 3:** * 那个**走私**犯试图贿赂海关官员。 * Pinyin: Nàge **zǒusī**fàn shìtú huìlù hǎiguān guānyuán. * English: That smuggler tried to bribe the customs official. * Analysis: This example uses the compound word **走私犯 (zǒusīfàn)**, which means "smuggler." * **Example 4:** * 为了逃避高额关税，一些公司选择**走私**电子产品。 * Pinyin: Wèile táobì gāo'é guānshuì, yīxiē gōngsī xuǎnzé **zǒusī** diànzǐ chǎnpǐn. * English: In order to evade high tariffs, some companies choose to smuggle electronic products. * Analysis: This sentence clearly explains the most common motivation for modern commercial smuggling. **走私** is used as a verb here. * **Example 5:** * 政府正在加强反**走私**的力度。 * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài jiāqiáng fǎn **zǒusī** de lìdù. * English: The government is strengthening anti-smuggling efforts. * Analysis: This uses the term **反走私 (fǎn zǒusī)**, meaning "anti-smuggling," a common term in official reports and news. * **Example 6:** * 你买的这个名牌包不会是**走私**货吧？ * Pinyin: Nǐ mǎi de zhège míngpái bāo bù huì shì **zǒusī**huò ba? * English: This designer bag you bought isn't smuggled goods, is it? * Analysis: This shows an informal, conversational use, with the speaker expressing suspicion. It uses the compound **走私货 (zǒusīhuò)**, meaning "smuggled goods." * **Example 7:** * 他们利用渔船在夜间**走私**。 * Pinyin: Tāmen lìyòng yúchuán zài yèjiān **zǒusī**. * English: They use fishing boats to smuggle at night. * Analysis: A simple sentence using **走私** as a verb, describing the method of the crime. * **Example 8:** * 历史上，鸦片**走私**给中国带来了巨大的灾难。 * Pinyin: Lìshǐ shàng, yāpiàn **zǒusī** gěi Zhōngguó dàiláile jùdà de zāinàn. * English: Historically, opium smuggling brought enormous disaster to China. * Analysis: This example places the word in its significant historical context. Here, **走私** is used as a noun. * **Example 9:** * **走私**珍稀动物是严重破坏生态平衡的犯罪行为。 * Pinyin: **Zǒusī** zhēnxī dòngwù shì yánzhòng pòhuài shēngtài pínghéng de fànzuì xíngwéi. * English: Smuggling rare animals is a criminal act that severely damages ecological balance. * Analysis: This highlights another type of smuggling beyond commercial goods. * **Example 10:** * 任何形式的**走私**活动都将受到法律的严惩。 * Pinyin: Rènhé xíngshì de **zǒusī** huódòng dōu jiāng shòudào fǎlǜ de yánchéng. * English: Any form of smuggling activity will be severely punished by the law. * Analysis: A formal, declarative sentence you might see on a government warning sign or in a legal document. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **False Friends: 走私 vs. 偷渡 (tōudù)** * A very common mistake for learners is to confuse **走私 (zǒusī)** with **偷渡 (tōudù)**. * **走私 (zǒusī)** is exclusively for **goods, products, and items**. * **偷渡 (tōudù)** is exclusively for **people** illegally crossing a border. * **Incorrect:** `他走私到美国。` (He smuggled to America.) -> This implies he smuggled goods. * **Correct:** `他偷渡到美国。` (Tā tōudù dào Měiguó.) -> He illegally immigrated to America. * **Correct:** `他往美国走私汽车。` (Tā wǎng Měiguó zǒusī qìchē.) -> He smuggled cars to America. * **Scale and Intent Matter** * While technically bringing an extra bottle of liquor through customs without declaring it is a form of smuggling, the word **走私** is usually reserved for acts with clear criminal intent, especially those on a commercial scale or involving highly illegal items (like drugs or weapons). For a minor infraction, a customs officer is more likely to use a term like **违规 (wéiguī)**, "to violate regulations." Using **走私** for a small, personal mistake would sound overly dramatic. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[偷渡]] (tōudù) - To cross a border illegally (for people). The "people" equivalent of **走私**. * [[海关]] (hǎiguān) - Customs. The government agency that smugglers try to evade. * [[关税]] (guānshuì) - Tariff, customs duty. The tax that commercial smugglers are often trying to avoid paying. * [[水货]] (shuǐhuò) - "Water goods"; grey-market products. These are goods imported via unofficial channels, which are often smuggled. This term refers to the product, whereas **走私** refers to the act. * [[黑市]] (hēishì) - Black market. The broader illegal market where smuggled goods are often sold. * [[贩毒]] (fàndú) - To traffic drugs. A specific, and very serious, type of **走私**. * [[违法]] (wéifǎ) - To break the law; illegal. A general term. **走私** is a specific type of **违法** act. * [[犯罪]] (fànzuì) - To commit a crime; a crime. A more serious and formal general term than **违法**. **走私** is a type of **犯罪**. * [[ contraband | 违禁品]] (wéijìnpǐn) - Contraband; prohibited items. The goods that are illegal to import/export, regardless of tariffs.