The Kanji: 罪 (Zai / Tsumi)
The kanji 罪 means "crime," "guilt," or "sin." It combines 罒 (net) with 非 (wrong), originally depicting capturing someone for wrongdoing. This character represents legal offenses, moral wrongs, and feelings of culpability.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 罪 (tsumi) - Crime/sin
殺人は重い罪だ。
"Murder is a serious crime."
2. 犯罪 (hanzai) - Criminal offense
犯罪を防止する。
"Prevent criminal offenses."
3. 有罪 (yūzai) - Guilty
被告人は有罪と判決された。
"The defendant was found guilty."
4. 罪悪感 (zaiakukan) - Guilt feeling
彼は強い罪悪感に苦しんでいる。
"He suffers from strong guilt feelings."
In summary, 罪 describes wrongdoing - from illegal acts (罪, 犯罪) and legal judgments (有罪) to psychological remorse (罪悪感). It encompasses both legal and moral dimensions of transgression in Japanese.