shòu huì: 受贿 - To Accept/Receive a Bribe, Bribery

shòu huì: 受贿 - To Accept/Receive a Bribe, Bribery

Quick Summary

Keywords: shou hui meaning, shou hui Chinese, 受贿 meaning, accept a bribe in Chinese, Chinese word for bribery, corruption in Chinese, 行贿 vs 受贿, Chinese legal terms, HSK 6 vocabulary.
Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese legal term shòu huì (受贿), which means “to accept a bribe” or the act of bribery from the receiver's perspective. This page breaks down the characters, explains its immense cultural and political significance in modern China's anti-corruption campaigns, and provides clear example sentences. Understand the critical difference between receiving a bribe (受贿) and giving a bribe (行贿) to avoid common mistakes.

Core Meaning

Pinyin (with tone marks): shòu huì
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 6
Concise Definition: To illegally accept money or other valuables in exchange for abusing one's official power or position.
In a Nutshell: 受贿 (shòu huì) literally translates to “receive a bribe.” It is a formal and serious term used almost exclusively in legal and political contexts to describe the crime of a person in a position of power (usually a government official) accepting a bribe. The focus is entirely on the person *taking* the illicit payment or gift, not the person giving it. Think of it as the legal charge leveled against a corrupt official.

Character Breakdown

受 (shòu): This character means “to receive,” “to accept,” or “to be subjected to.” It depicts one hand (爪) passing an object to another hand (又) under a roof (宀), illustrating the act of reception or transfer.
贿 (huì): This character means “bribe.” It is composed of the radical 贝 (bèi), which originally meant “cowrie shell” and now represents money, valuables, or wealth, and the phonetic component 有 (yǒu), meaning “to have.” Together, they signify valuables used for an illicit purpose.
When combined, 受贿 (shòu huì) forms a direct and unambiguous meaning: to receive (受) a bribe (贿).

Cultural Context and Significance

受贿 (shòu huì) is a cornerstone term in understanding modern Chinese politics and society, particularly in the context of the government's widespread anti-corruption campaigns (反腐运动 fǎnfǔ yùndòng). Since 2012, terms like “打老虎” (dǎ lǎohǔ - “swatting tigers,” targeting high-level officials) have become common, and the specific crime is almost always 受贿 or its close relative, 贪污 (tānwū), embezzlement.
The term is constantly featured in state news media when reporting on the investigation and prosecution of officials, reinforcing the government's official stance on zero tolerance for corruption.
Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, the word “bribery” is a general term that can describe the act of both giving and receiving. Chinese is much more specific. 受贿 (shòu huì) is strictly for the person *accepting* the bribe. The act of *offering* a bribe is called 行贿 (xínghuì). This legal and linguistic distinction places a heavy emphasis on the abuse of public trust by the official. While both acts are illegal, the cultural and political focus is often on punishing the one who 受贿, as they have betrayed their duty to the public.

Practical Usage in Modern China

Formality & Connotation: 受贿 (shòu huì) is a highly formal and legalistic term with a severely negative connotation. It is not used in casual conversation to describe minor exchanges of favors. Using it for a small, informal situation (e.g., “He bribed me with a coffee”) would sound absurd and overly dramatic.
Primary Contexts:
- News and Media: You will see this word constantly in news headlines and articles about government officials being investigated for corruption.
- Legal System: It is a specific criminal charge defined in China's Criminal Law. An official can be formally charged with “受贿罪” (shòuhuìzuì - the crime of accepting bribes).
- Formal Discussions: It is used in academic, political, and business discussions about governance, ethics, and the rule of law.

Example Sentences

Example 1:
- 这位官员因涉嫌受贿正在接受调查。
- Pinyin: Zhè wèi guānyuán yīn shèxián shòu huì zhèngzài jiēshòu diàochá.
- English: This official is under investigation on suspicion of accepting bribes.
- Analysis: A very common and standard sentence you would read in a Chinese news report. “涉嫌” (shèxián) means “to be suspected of.”
Example 2:
- 法院最终认定他受贿金额高达五百万元。
- Pinyin: Fǎyuàn zuìzhōng rèndìng tā shòu huì jīn'é gāodá wǔbǎi wàn yuán.
- English: The court ultimately determined that the amount he accepted in bribes was as high as five million yuan.
- Analysis: This demonstrates the legal context. “认定” (rèndìng) is a formal verb for “to determine” or “to recognize as fact” in a legal setting.
Example 3:
- 在中国，行贿和受贿都属于严重的刑事犯罪。
- Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, xínghuì hé shòu huì dōu shǔyú yánzhòng de xíngshì fànzuì.
- English: In China, both offering a bribe and accepting a bribe are considered serious criminal offenses.
- Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts the two key terms, highlighting that both sides of the transaction are illegal.
Example 4:
- 他利用职务之便，多次受贿，为他人谋取利益。
- Pinyin: Tā lìyòng zhíwù zhī biàn, duōcì shòu huì, wèi tārén móuqǔ lìyì.
- English: He used the convenience of his position to accept bribes on multiple occasions and seek benefits for others.
- Analysis: “利用职务之便” (lìyòng zhíwù zhī biàn) is a set phrase meaning “to abuse one's power/position,” which is the core condition for the crime of 受贿.
Example 5:
- 政府加强了对公务员受贿行为的打击力度。
- Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ jiāqiáng le duì gōngwùyuán shòu huì xíngwéi de dǎjī lìdù.
- English: The government has strengthened the intensity of its crackdown on bribe-taking behavior by civil servants.
- Analysis: This sentence illustrates the term's use in the context of policy and government action.
Example 6:
- 任何形式的受贿都是对公共信任的背叛。
- Pinyin: Rènhé xíngshì de shòu huì dōu shì duì gōnggòng xìnrèn de bèipàn.
- English: Any form of bribe-taking is a betrayal of public trust.
- Analysis: This sentence speaks to the moral and ethical dimension of the act, not just the legal one.
Example 7:
- 他因害怕被发现，拒绝了那笔巨额的受贿款。
- Pinyin: Tā yīn hàipà bèi fāxiàn, jùjué le nà bǐ jù'é de shòu huì kuǎn.
- English: Fearing discovery, he rejected that huge bribe payment.
- Analysis: This shows 受贿 can be used as an adjective to modify a noun, like “bribe money” (受贿款).
Example 8:
- 证据显示，他在项目审批过程中存在受贿问题。
- Pinyin: Zhèngjù xiǎnshì, tā zài xiàngmù shěnpī guòchéng zhōng cúnzài shòu huì wèntí.
- English: The evidence indicates that he had issues with accepting bribes during the project approval process.
- Analysis: “存在…问题” (cúnzài…wèntí) is a slightly more indirect, formal way to state that someone engaged in improper behavior.
Example 9:
- 作为公司的采购经理，他坚决抵制任何受贿的企图。
- Pinyin: Zuòwéi gōngsī de cǎigòu jīnglǐ, tā jiānjué dǐzhì rènhé shòu huì de qìtú.
- English: As the company's purchasing manager, he resolutely resists any attempt at bribery.
- Analysis: This example moves the context from government to business, where accepting kickbacks or bribes is also a serious offense.
Example 10:
- 那名裁判因为受贿操纵比赛结果而被终身禁赛。
- Pinyin: Nà míng cáipàn yīnwèi shòu huì cāozòng bǐsài jiéguǒ ér bèi zhōngshēn jìnsài.
- English: That referee was banned for life for accepting bribes to manipulate the match's outcome.
- Analysis: Shows the term's applicability outside of government, such as in sports.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

Giver vs. Receiver (The Biggest Mistake): This cannot be stressed enough. English speakers often use “bribe” universally. In Chinese, you must distinguish between the giver and the receiver.
- 受贿 (shòu huì): To RECEIVE a bribe. (Focus is on the official/person in power).
- 行贿 (xínghuì): To GIVE a bribe. (Focus is on the person trying to gain favor).
- Incorrect Usage: `他受贿了那个官员。(Tā shòuhuì le nàge guānyuán.)`
- Why it's wrong: This sentence is grammatically and logically incorrect. It tries to say “He *received a bribe to* that official,” which makes no sense. The correct way to say “He bribed that official” is `他向那个官员行贿了。(Tā xiàng nàge guānyuán xínghuì le.)`
Overuse in Casual Contexts: Do not use 受贿 to describe informal exchanges. If your friend buys you lunch so you'll help them move, this is not 受贿. It's a serious criminal accusation.
- Incorrect Usage: `你请我喝咖啡是想贿赂我吗？(Nǐ qǐng wǒ hē kāfēi shì xiǎng huìlù wǒ ma?)` - Even using the general term `贿赂` (bribe) here is often a joke. Using 受贿 would be completely out of place.

Related Terms and Concepts

行贿 (xínghuì): The direct counterpart to 受贿; the act of offering or giving a bribe.
贪污 (tānwū): To embezzle; corruption involving the theft or misuse of public funds directly. This is often coupled with 受贿 as a charge against a corrupt official.
腐败 (fǔbài): The general, abstract noun for “corruption.” 受贿 is a specific type of 腐败.
贿赂 (huìlù): Can be a noun (“a bribe”) or a more general verb (“to bribe”), but 行贿 and 受贿 are more specific about the direction of the action.
回扣 (huíkòu): A kickback; a commission (often illicit) paid back to someone who facilitates a transaction. A common form of 受贿 in business.
以权谋私 (yǐ quán móu sī): A very common idiom meaning “to use one's power for personal gain.” 受贿 is a classic example of this behavior.
廉洁 (liánjié): The direct antonym concept; to be honest, clean, and incorruptible. A quality expected of public officials.
渎职 (dúzhí): Dereliction of duty; neglect of one's official responsibilities. It is another crime officials can be charged with, sometimes related to corruption cases.

Table of Contents

shòu huì: 受贿 - To Accept/Receive a Bribe, Bribery

Quick Summary

Core Meaning

Character Breakdown

Cultural Context and Significance

Practical Usage in Modern China

Example Sentences

Nuances and Common Mistakes

Related Terms and Concepts