判處

Sentence to

Level 6Sounds Like pun3 cyu5

判處 (pun3 cyu2) is a formal verb used in legal and news contexts to describe a court handing down a specific sentence (e.g., imprisonment, a fine, or community service).

How It Works

判處 (pun3 cyu2) is a high-register compound verb consisting of 判 (to judge) and 處 (to deal with/punish). Note that 處 must be pronounced in the upper rising tone (cyu2) in this context.

1. Formal Register
This term is strictly for formal journalism, news broadcasts, and courtroom settings. In casual conversation, speakers usually shorten this to just 判 (pun3) or 判咗 (pun3 zo2).

2. Sentence Structure

  • Active: [Court/Judge] + 判處 + [Defendant] + [Punishment]
  • Passive: [Defendant] + 被判處 + [Punishment]

3. Usage with Penalties
Unlike some misconceptions, 判處 is not limited to prison sentences. It is used for any court-ordered penalty, including:

  • 監禁 (gaam1 gam3) - Imprisonment
  • 罰款 (fat6 fun2) - Fine
  • 社會服務令 (se5 wui2 fuk6 mou6 ling6) - Community service order

4. Distinction from 判決 (pun3 kyut3)
While 判決 refers to the 'verdict' or 'judgment' (the decision of guilt), 判處 refers specifically to the 'sentencing' (the assignment of the penalty).

Examples (4)

  1. 被告被判處終身監禁。

    The defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment.

    Word by Word: Defendant [passive marker] sentence-to life imprisonment.

    This is a standard passive construction used in news reporting. 終身監禁 (zung1 san1 gaam1 gam3) means 'life imprisonment'.

  2. 法庭最終判處佢社會服務令一百小時。

    The court ultimately sentenced him to 100 hours of community service.

    Word by Word: Court ultimately sentence-to him community service order one hundred hours.

    This active construction shows the court as the subject, followed by the defendant (佢) and then the specific penalty.

  3. 由於罪名成立，佢被判處罰款三千元。

    As he was found guilty, he was sentenced to a fine of 3,000 dollars.

    Word by Word: Because crime established, he [passive marker] sentence-to fine three thousand dollars.

    This demonstrates that 判處 is used for financial penalties (罰款 fat6 fun2) as well as custodial ones.

  4. 佢涉嫌謀殺，如果罪名成立，最高可被判處死刑。

    He is suspected of murder; if found guilty, the maximum sentence could be the death penalty.

    Word by Word: He suspected murder, if crime established, highest can [passive marker] sentence-to death-penalty.

    This uses 涉嫌 (suspected of) and 如果 (if) to describe a potential legal outcome.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the formal '判處' in casual, non-legal contexts.

    阿媽判處我洗碗。
    阿媽罰我洗碗。

    判處 is strictly for judicial sentencing. For everyday punishments (like a parent punishing a child), use 罰 (fat6) instead.

  • Mispronouncing the second character '處'.

    判處 (pun3 cyu3)
    判處 (pun3 cyu2)

    When 處 means 'to deal with' or 'to punish', it must be the upper rising tone (cyu2). The tone cyu3 is used for the noun 'place'.

How It Connects

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判處Level 6Sentence to

Learn This First

判處 is a high-level formal verb used in legal contexts (sentencing). To use it correctly, learners need to be familiar with written Cantonese registers, how to express durations of time using classifiers, and the basic double-object sentence structure common in formal reporting.

Words in This Pattern

判处