punishment exceeds the crime; excessive punishment
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
punishment does not fit the crime; disproportionate punishment, often excessive
formalThis idiom is a fixed four-character pattern used in formal contexts, particularly in legal, political, or social commentary, to criticize unjust or overly harsh penalties.
Xǔ许
duō多
mín民
zhòng众
rèn认
wéi为
zhè这
ge个
pàn判
jué决
fá罚
bù不
dāng当
zuì罪
，
liáng量
xíng刑
guò过
zhòng重
le了
。
Many people believe this sentence is disproportionate and the penalty is too severe.
Gǔ古
dài代
de的
fǎ法
lǜ律
yǒu有
shí时
xiǎn显
de得
fá罚
bù不
dāng当
zuì罪
，
qīng轻
wēi微
de的
guò过
shī失
yě也
kě可
néng能
zhāo招
zhì致
yán严
kù酷
de的
xíng刑
fá罚
。
Ancient laws sometimes seemed disproportionate, where minor mistakes could lead to cruel punishments.
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Zuò作
wéi为
fǎ法
guān官
，
tā他
de的
yuán原
zé则
zhī之
yī一
jiù就
shì是
bì避
miǎn免
chū出
xiàn现
fá罚
bù不
dāng当
zuì罪
de的
qíng情
kuàng况
。
As a judge, one of his principles is to avoid situations where the punishment does not fit the crime.