汉字News

← 汉字NewsChinese News for Learners
China
zhōng guó
中国
and
yǔ
与
World
shì jiè
世界
·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
in
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
is
shì
是
Xi Jinping
Xí Jìnpíng
习近平
in
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)
le
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)
de
的
resolve / determination
juéxīn
决心
，
although / even though
jǐnguǎn
尽管
relevant / concerned
xiāngguān
相关
investigation
diàochá
调查
already
yǐ
已
to take (time) / spanning
lìshí
历时
more than / exceeding
yú
逾
two years
liǎng nián
两年
。

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.

More in China & World

Xi Jinping
Xí Jìnpíng
习近平
urges
hūyù
呼吁
global
quánqiú
全球
cooperation
hézuò
合作
develop
kāifā
开发
artificial intelligence
réngōng zhìnéng
人工智能
prevent
fángzhǐ
防止
technology
jìshù
技术
monopoly
lǒngduàn
垄断
。

Xi Jinping Urges Global AI Cooperation to Prevent Technology Monopoly and Ensure Shared Prosperity

China / Chinese
Zhōngguó
中国
former / previous
qián
前
Premier of the State Council
guówùyuàn zǒnglǐ
国务院总理
Zhu Rongji (former Chinese Premier)
Zhū Róngjī
朱镕基
to pass away / to die
shìshì
逝世
，
lived to the age of
xiǎngnián
享年
97 years old
97 suì
97岁
。

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Dies at Age 97

China
zhōngguó
中国
promulgate
bānbù
颁布
anti-cyber
fǎn wǎngluò
反网络
violence
bàolì
暴力
law
fǎ
法
maximum
zuìgāo
最高
fine
fákuǎn
罚款
10 million
qiānwàn
千万
yuan
yuán
元
。

China Enacts Anti-Cyberbullying Law with Maximum 10 Million Yuan Fines

Colombia
Gēlúnbǐyà
哥伦比亚
magnitude 7.4
7.4 jí
7.4级
earthquake
dìzhèn
地震
over 200 people
yú liǎng bǎi rén
逾两百人
killed / perished in a disaster
línàn
罹难
。

Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake in Colombia Kills Over 200 People