判刑 (pànxíng) offers a window into the structure of the Chinese legal system. Unlike the American system, which often features a jury that determines guilt and a judge who later determines the sentence (sometimes after a separate hearing), the Chinese system is typically judge-centric. There is no jury of peers in the vast majority of cases. The act of 判刑 is performed by a judge or a panel of judges (法官, fǎguān) who also determine guilt. This concentrates significant authority in the hands of the state's legal apparatus. The term carries a heavy weight of finality and state authority. When someone is 判刑, it's considered the conclusion of a state-led process. While an American might say, “The jury convicted him, and the judge sentenced him to ten years,” the Chinese process is more streamlined. The court (法院, fǎyuàn) finds the person guilty (定罪, dìngzuì) and sentences them (判刑) in its judgment (判决, pànjué). The cultural feeling is less about a debate between two opposing sides (prosecution and defense) and more about the state delivering a final, authoritative judgment.
判刑 is a formal term used exclusively in the context of law and justice. You will encounter it constantly in:
It is not a casual word. You would never use it for minor infractions like getting a parking ticket or being told off by a parent. Using it in a lighthearted or informal context would sound strange and inappropriate. Its connotation is always serious and negative, as it's associated with crime and punishment.
The biggest pitfall for English speakers is confusing 判刑 with similar but distinct legal concepts.