xínghuì: 行贿 - To Bribe, Bribery

• Keywords: 行贿, xinghui, what does xinghui mean, bribe in Chinese, Chinese word for bribery, corruption in China, legal Chinese terms, 行贿 vs 受贿, how to say bribe in Chinese, business ethics in China.
• Summary: 行贿 (xínghuì) is the formal Chinese verb and noun for the act of giving a bribe. It refers specifically to the illegal act of offering money, gifts, or favors to a person in a position of authority to influence their decisions. A key term in discussions about law, business ethics, and corruption in China, understanding 行贿 is crucial for navigating formal and professional environments. It is the direct counterpart to 受贿 (shòuhuì), which means “to accept a bribe.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xíng huì
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To offer or give a bribe; the act of bribery.
• In a Nutshell: 行贿 is a serious, formal, and highly negative term. Think of it as the word you would see in a newspaper headline or a legal document about a corruption scandal. It's not about giving a friendly gift; it's the specific criminal act of “carrying out a bribe” to gain an illicit advantage. The word carries the full weight of illegality and moral condemnation.

• 行 (xíng): This character's primary meaning is “to go,” “to walk,” or “to travel.” By extension, it also means “to do,” “to perform,” or “to carry out.” In 行贿, it signifies the action of performing the deed.
• 贿 (huì): This character means “bribe” or “to bribe.” It's a combination of the radical 贝 (bèi), which originally meant “cowrie shell” and is now associated with money and valuables, and 有 (yǒu), which means “to have.” So, semantically, it's about giving valuables to someone.

Together, 行 (to carry out) + 贿 (a bribe) form a clear and direct term: to carry out the act of bribing.

In Chinese culture, the distinction between gift-giving (送礼 - sònglǐ) and bribery (行贿 - xínghuì) is critically important, yet can be a source of confusion for outsiders. Gift-giving is a cornerstone of building and maintaining 关系 (guānxi), or social networks. It's a way to show respect, build goodwill, and celebrate occasions. These gifts are part of a long-term, reciprocal social dance. 行贿, on the other hand, is a starkly different concept. It is a transactional, illegal act with a specific, immediate, and corrupt goal: to make an official, a judge, or a business partner violate their duty in exchange for personal gain. While building `关系` can involve expensive gifts, it becomes `行贿` when there is a clear “quid pro quo” expectation that breaks rules or laws. The Chinese government has undertaken massive anti-corruption (反腐 - fǎnfǔ) campaigns, making the prosecution of both `行贿` (giving bribes) and `受贿` (receiving bribes) a major focus. Therefore, the term `行贿` is highly charged and associated with severe legal consequences, distinguishing it sharply from the culturally ingrained, and generally legal, practice of nurturing `关系`.

`行贿` is a formal and serious term. You will encounter it primarily in the following contexts:

• Legal and Official Documents: In court filings, police reports, and legal statutes.
• News Media: Reporting on corruption scandals involving government officials or corporate executives.
• Formal Business Discussions: In compliance training or serious discussions about business ethics and legal risks.

It is not a word used in casual conversation to describe minor, informal favors. For example, you would never use `行贿` to describe slipping a server $20 for a better table. That would be seen as overly dramatic and inappropriate. The term is reserved for actual criminal bribery. Its connotation is exclusively negative.

• Example 1:
  • 他因试图行贿政府官员而被捕。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīn shìtú xínghuì zhèngfǔ guānyuán ér bèi bǔ.
  • English: He was arrested for attempting to bribe a government official.
  • Analysis: A straightforward example showing the direct, criminal context of the word. This is a typical sentence you might see in a news report.
• Example 2:
  • 在我们公司，任何形式的行贿都是被严格禁止的。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǒmen gōngsī, rènhé xíngshì de xínghuì dōu shì bèi yángé jìnzhǐ de.
  • English: In our company, any form of bribery is strictly prohibited.
  • Analysis: Here, 行贿 is used as a noun (“bribery”). This is common in corporate policy and compliance documents.
• Example 3:
  • 这家建筑公司的老板被指控向项目审批人行贿。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā jiànzhù gōngsī de lǎobǎn bèi zhǐkòng xiàng xiàngmù shěnpīrén xínghuì.
  • English: The boss of this construction company was accused of bribing the project approver.
  • Analysis: The structure “向 [someone] 行贿” (xiàng [someone] xínghuì) means “to bribe [someone]”. This is a very common pattern.
• Example 4:
  • 行贿和受贿是两种相关的腐败行为。
  • Pinyin: Xínghuì hé shòuhuì shì liǎng zhǒng xiāngguān de fǔbài xíngwéi.
  • English: Giving bribes and accepting bribes are two related acts of corruption.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly distinguishes 行贿 (giving) from its counterpart 受贿 (receiving), which is a crucial distinction in legal contexts.
• Example 5:
  • 证据表明，他用巨款行贿以获得该合同。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngjù biǎomíng, tā yòng jùkuǎn xínghuì yǐ huòdé gāi hétong.
  • English: The evidence shows that he used a huge sum of money to bribe his way to getting the contract.
  • Analysis: The phrase “用 [something] 行贿” (yòng [something] xínghuì) specifies the means of bribery. “以” (yǐ) introduces the purpose.
• Example 6:
  • 他的律师建议他不要承认行贿罪。
  • Pinyin: Tā de lǜshī jiànyì tā bùyào chéngrèn xínghuì zuì.
  • English: His lawyer advised him not to admit to the crime of bribery.
  • Analysis: 行贿罪 (xínghuì zuì) specifically means “the crime of bribery.”
• Example 7:
  • 为了让儿子上好学校，他竟然想到了行贿的法子。
  • Pinyin: Wèile ràng érzi shàng hǎo xuéxiào, tā jìngrán xiǎngdàole xínghuì de fǎzi.
  • English: In order to get his son into a good school, he unexpectedly thought of the method of bribery.
  • Analysis: This example shows the term used in a narrative context, describing the thought process behind a corrupt act. “竟然 (jìngrán)” adds a sense of shock or surprise.
• Example 8:
  • 法律对行贿者的惩罚非常严厉。
  • Pinyin: Fǎlǜ duì xínghuìzhě de chéngfá fēicháng yánlì.
  • English: The law's punishment for bribers is very severe.
  • Analysis: The suffix “者 (zhě)” turns the verb into a noun for a person: a “briber.”
• Example 9:
  • 这起案件涉及多名官员，行贿金额高达数百万。
  • Pinyin: Zhè qǐ ànjiàn shèjí duō míng guānyuán, xínghuì jīné gāodá shù bǎiwàn.
  • English: This case involves multiple officials, with the bribery amount reaching several million.
  • Analysis: Here, 行贿 is used adjectivally to describe the amount of money: “bribery amount” (行贿金额).
• Example 10:
  • 他坚称那笔钱是合法的咨询费，不是用来行贿的。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiānchēng nà bǐ qián shì héfǎ de zīxúnfèi, bùshì yònglái xínghuì de.
  • English: He insisted that the money was a legitimate consulting fee, not intended for bribery.
  • Analysis: This shows a common defense in corruption cases, highlighting the fine line people might claim exists between legal payments and illegal bribes.

• Mistake 1: Confusing 行贿 (xínghuì) with 送礼 (sònglǐ).
  • This is the most significant pitfall for learners. 送礼 (sònglǐ) is “to give a gift” and is a normal, essential part of Chinese social culture. 行贿 (xínghuì) is a crime.
  • Incorrect: `过年的时候，我给老板行贿了一瓶酒。` (During Chinese New Year, I bribed my boss with a bottle of wine.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is far too severe. It implies you committed a crime to get your boss to do something illegal for you.
  • Correct: `过年的时候，我给老板送礼，送了一瓶酒。` (During Chinese New Year, I gave a gift to my boss, a bottle of wine.)
• “False Friend” vs. “Greasing the Palms”:
  • In English, “greasing someone's palm” can sometimes refer to a small, informal bribe or a large tip. `行贿` is never informal. It corresponds to the most serious, legally-defined act of bribery. For smaller, grey-area payments, a colloquial term like 塞钱 (sāiqián), literally “to stuff money,” might be more appropriate, though it also carries negative connotations.

• 受贿 (shòuhuì) - The direct counterpart: to accept a bribe. If one person is 行贿, the other is 受贿.
• 贿赂 (huìlù) - A close synonym for “bribe” or “bribery,” often used as a noun. While 行贿 emphasizes the action, 贿赂 can refer to the bribe itself. They are often interchangeable.
• 贪污 (tānwū) - Embezzlement or graft. This refers to the act of someone in power stealing public or company funds for personal use, which is different from being bribed by an external party.
• 腐败 (fǔbài) - Corruption. The broad, overarching concept that includes bribery, embezzlement, and other abuses of power.
• 送礼 (sònglǐ) - To give a gift. The socially acceptable and legal act of gift-giving, crucial to distinguish from bribery.
• 关系 (guānxi) - The complex web of social networks and relationships. The cultural backdrop against which gift-giving occurs and where the line towards bribery can sometimes be blurred.
• 回扣 (huíkòu) - A kickback. A specific form of bribery where a portion of a payment is returned to the person who facilitated the transaction.
• 反腐 (fǎnfǔ) - Anti-corruption. A major political and social campaign in modern China, making terms like 行贿 highly relevant.