·HSK 6

China
Zhōngguó
中国
two (people, with measure word)
liǎng míng
两名
former
qián
前
defense minister
guófáng bùzhǎng
国防部长
because of / due to
yīn
因
to accept bribes
shòuhuì
受贿
to be sentenced
bèi pàn
被判
death penalty
sǐxíng
死刑
with a two-year reprieve / suspended execution
huǎnqī zhíxíng
缓期执行
。

China

Zhōngguó

中国

military court / tribunal

jūnshì fǎtíng

军事法庭

on (date) / at

yú

于

May 7th

5 yuè 7 rì

5月7日

toward / regarding

duì

对

former

qián

前

defense minister

guófáng bùzhǎng

国防部长

Wei Fenghe (person name)

Wèi Fènghé

魏凤和

and

yǔ

与

Li Shangfu (person name)

Lǐ Shàngfú

李尚福

to render / to issue (a ruling)

zuòchū

作出

verdict / ruling

pànjué

判决

，

both persons / the two individuals

liǎng rén

两人

each / both

jūn

均

to be sentenced to

bèi pàn chǔ

被判处

death penalty

sǐxíng

死刑

with a two-year reprieve (effectively commuted to life imprisonment)

huǎnqī liǎng nián zhíxíng

缓期两年执行

，

to set / to establish (a record or precedent)

chuàng xià

创下

Xi Jinping (name of Chinese president)

Xí Jìnpíng

习近平

anti-corruption

fǎnfǔ

反腐

campaign / movement

yùndòng

运动

within / during

zhōng

中

against

duì

对

senior / high-ranking

gāojí

高级

military officer

jūnguān

军官

to deal with / to punish

chǔzhì

处置

the most severe / the harshest

zuì yánlì de

最严厉的

precedent

xiānlì

先例

。

May 9, 2026 at 2:00 AM

China

Zhōngguó

中国

military court / tribunal

jūnshì fǎtíng

军事法庭

on (date)

yú

于

May 7th

5 yuè 7 rì

5月7日

to pronounce a verdict / to announce a sentence

xuānpàn

宣判

two (people)

liǎng míng

两名

former

qián

前

defense minister

guófáng bùzhǎng

国防部长

bribery / accepting bribes

shòuhuì

受贿

criminal charge

zuìmíng

罪名

to be established / to be upheld (of charges)

chénglì

成立

，

both / each

jūn

均

to be sentenced to

bèi pàn chǔ

被判处

death penalty

sǐxíng

死刑

with a two-year reprieve (effectively life imprisonment)

huǎnqī liǎng nián zhíxíng

缓期两年执行

。

Wei Fenghe (name)

Wèi Fènghé

魏凤和

，

currently aged

xiànnián

现年

72 years old

72 suì

72岁

，

previously / once

céng

曾

from

yú

于

from 2018 to 2023

2018 nián zhì 2023 nián

2018年至2023年

to serve as / to hold the post of

dānrèn

担任

defense minister

guófáng bùzhǎng

国防部长

，

to be found / to be ruled

bèi cáidìng

被裁定

in / during

zài

在

the military / armed forces

jūnduì

军队

personnel / personnel affairs

rénshì

人事

promotion (in rank)

jìnshēng

晋升

aspect / area

fāngmiàn

方面

to abuse authority / to misuse official power

lànyòng zhíquán

滥用职权

and / moreover

bìng

并

to receive / to accept (bribes or gifts)

shōushòu

收受

enormous sum / large amount

jùé

巨额

bribe / graft

huìlù

贿赂

。

Li Shangfu (name)

Lǐ Shàngfú

李尚福

，

currently aged

xiànnián

现年

68 years old

68 suì

68岁

，

only / merely

jǐn

仅

to serve as

dānrèn

担任

defense minister

guófáng bùzhǎng

国防部长

less than / under

bùzú

不足

eight months

bā gè yuè

八个月

，

to be determined / to be found guilty of

bèi rèndìng

被认定

both (in a paired construction)

jì

既

to receive (bribes)

shōushòu

收受

also / and

yòu

又

to offer bribes

xínghuì

行贿

，

and / moreover

bìng

并

for (someone)

wèi

为

specific individuals

tèdìng rényuán

特定人员

to seek / to obtain (for others)

móuqǔ

谋取

promotion

jìnshēng

晋升

facilitation / advantage

biànlì

便利

。

both men / the two individuals

liǎng rén

两人

each / both

jūn

均

yú

于

the year 2023

2023 nián

2023年

by (passive marker)

bèi

被

Central Military Commission (CMC)

Zhōngyāng Jūnshì Wěiyuánhuì

中央军事委员会

Discipline Inspection Commission

jìlǜ jiǎnchá wěiyuánhuì

纪律检查委员会

to open an investigation / to file a case

lì àn

立案

investigation

diàochá

调查

。

this time / on this occasion

cǐ cì

此次

ruling / verdict

pànjué

判决

shì

是

Xi Jinping

Xí Jìnpíng

习近平

zài

在

the PLA (People's Liberation Army)

Jiěfàngjūn

解放军

internally / within

nèibù

内部

to carry out / to implement

tuīxíng

推行

anti-corruption

fǎnfǔ

反腐

campaign / movement

yùndòng

运动

since

yǐlái

以来

，

targeting / directed at

zhēnduì

针对

senior / high-ranking

gāojí

高级

military officer

jūnguān

军官

that has been rendered / that has been issued

suǒ zuòchū de

所作出的

the most severe / the harshest

zuì yánlì

最严厉

punishment / disciplinary action

chéngchǔ

惩处

。

in accordance with / pursuant to

yīzhào

依照

Chinese

Zhōngguó

中国

law

fǎlǜ

法律

，

death penalty

sǐxíng

死刑

with a two-year reprieve

huǎnqī liǎng nián zhíxíng

缓期两年执行

means / implies

yìwèizhe

意味着

after

zài

在

reprieve period

huǎnqī

缓期

expires / comes to an end

jiè mǎn

届满

after

hòu

后

，

sentence / punishment

xíngfá

刑罚

typically / normally

tōngcháng

通常

will (future marker)

jiāng

将

be (passive)

bèi

被

to be changed to / to be commuted to

gǎi wéi

改为

lifelong / for life

zhōngshēn

终身

imprisonment

jiānjìn

监禁

，

must not / not permitted

bùdé

不得

parole / early release

jiǎshì

假释

。

analysts / commentators

fēnxī rénshì

分析人士

to point out / to note

zhǐchū

指出

，

this case

cǐ àn

此案

to demonstrate / to make manifest

zhāngxiǎn

彰显

(completion particle)

了

Beijing

Běijīng

北京

to purge / to root out

sùqīng

肃清

PLA

Jiěfàngjūn

解放军

top-level / senior leadership

gāocéng

高层

corruption

fǔbài

腐败

(possessive / attributive particle)

的

resolve / determination

juéxīn

决心

，

although / even though

jǐnguǎn

尽管

relevant / concerned

xiāngguān

New Words

xuānpàn

宣判

to pronounce verdict

shòuhuì

受贿

to accept bribes

sǐxíng

死刑

death penalty

huǎnqīzhíxíng

缓期执行

reprieve

lànyòngzhíquán

滥用职权

abuse of authority

huìlù

贿赂

bribes

jìnshēng

晋升

promotion

jìlǜjiǎnchá

纪律检查

discipline inspection

fǎnfǔ

反腐

anti-corruption

zhōngshēnjiānjìn

终身监禁

life imprisonment

fǔbài

腐败

corruption

zhāngxiǎn

彰显

to demonstrate

News in English

China & World

China Sentences Two Former Defense Ministers to Death With Reprieve Over Bribery

A Chinese military court sentenced former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu to death with a two-year reprieve on May 7, setting the harshest precedent yet in Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive within the PLA.

A Chinese military court pronounced verdicts on May 7 against two former defense ministers on bribery charges. Both were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, effectively life imprisonment.

Wei Fenghe, 72, served as defense minister from 2018 to 2023. He was found to have abused his authority in military personnel promotions and accepted enormous bribes.

Li Shangfu, 68, served as defense minister for less than eight months. He was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes, and of facilitating promotions for specific individuals.

Both men were placed under investigation by the Central Military Commission's Discipline Inspection Commission in 2023.

This verdict demonstrates Beijing's resolve to purge corruption from senior PLA leadership, representing the most severe punishment issued against high-ranking military officers since Xi Jinping launched his anti-corruption campaign within the armed forces.

According to Chinese law, a death sentence with a two-year reprieve typically converts to life imprisonment after the reprieve period expires, without possibility of parole.

Analysts note that this case demonstrates Beijing's determination to root out corruption from the PLA's top ranks, despite investigations spanning more than two years.

New Words

News in English

China Sentences Two Former Defense Ministers to Death With Reprieve Over Bribery

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