HSK 7, unknown, rank #4881, Hard, formal, law, public safety
执法
zhífǎ
law enforcement
HSK 7, unknown, rank #4881, Hard
zhífǎ(zhi2fa3) T2
1law enforcement
2to enforce a law
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March 24, 2026
执法(執法)zhífǎ(zhi2fa3)
执法 refers to the act of enforcing laws or regulations. It is commonly used in contexts related to law enforcement agencies, such as police or regulatory bodies, and implies the authority to apply legal measures to uphold justice and order.
Frequency#4881DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of law enforcement is closely tied to the traditional values of maintaining harmony and social order. The role of the police and law enforcement is often seen as a guardian of societal stability.
Memory Tip
Think of 执 (zhi2) as 'holding' or 'grasping' something firmly, and 法 (fa3) as 'law'. Visualize a police officer firmly holding the scales of justice, signifying their role in upholding and enforcing the law.
Meanings of 执法
zhífǎ(zhi2fa3)
1to enforce a law
2law enforcement
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 执法
执法Simplified
執法Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 执法
Podcast: 执法
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AI Study Notes for 执法
Quick Contrast
执法 (zhífǎ) vs 依法 (yīfǎ): 执法 emphasizes the act of enforcing laws, while 依法 refers to acting according to the law.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 执 (zhi2) as 'holding' or 'grasping' something firmly, and 法 (fa3) as 'law'. Visualize a police officer firmly holding the scales of justice, signifying their role in upholding and enforcing the law.
Usage Notes
This term is typically used in formal contexts, especially in legal or governmental discussions. Avoid using it in casual conversations as it may come off as overly formal. A common collocation is '执法部门' (zhi2 fa3 bu4 men2), meaning 'law enforcement department'.
HSK Study Tips
While 执法 is not explicitly listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 5 legal terms like 法律 (fa3 lu4, 'law') and 规定 (gui1 ding4, 'regulation'). Focus on understanding these related terms to build a solid legal vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of law enforcement is closely tied to the traditional values of maintaining harmony and social order. The role of the police and law enforcement is often seen as a guardian of societal stability.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 执法 with 立法 (li4 fa3, 'to legislate'). Remember, 执法 refers to enforcing existing laws, while 立法 refers to the process of making laws. For example, saying '我在立法' (wo3 zai4 li4 fa3) when you mean 'I am enforcing the law' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 执法
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Common Confusions with 执法
执法vs执
zhí
Same pronunciation but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to enforce a law"?
or
Cultural Notes for 执法
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of law enforcement is closely tied to the traditional values of maintaining harmony and social order. The role of the police and law enforcement is often seen as a guardian of societal stability.
Frequently Asked Questions about 执法
Sure! In everyday conversation, you might hear someone say, '我们要遵守法律，支持执法' (wǒmen yào zūnshǒu fǎlǜ, zhīchí zhífǎ), meaning 'We must obey the law and support law enforcement.' This reflects an understanding of the importance of legal compliance and support for police activities.
执法 (zhí fǎ) refers to law enforcement, while 立法 (lì fǎ) means 'to legislate' or 'law-making.' The former involves the implementation of laws, whereas the latter pertains to the creation of laws.
You can use 执法 in a sentence like this: '警察正在执法' (jǐngchá zhèngzài zhífǎ), which translates to 'The police are enforcing the law.' This phrase is commonly used to describe law enforcement activities.
执法 (zhí fǎ) means 'to enforce a law' or 'law enforcement' in Chinese. It is often used in contexts related to legal actions and the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies.
In a legal context, 执法 means 'to enforce the law', referring to the actions taken by authorities to implement legal regulations.
It's best to reserve 执法 for formal discussions about law enforcement, as using it in casual conversations may seem inappropriate.
Yes, synonyms include 执法机关 (zhi2 fa3 ji1 guan1), meaning 'law enforcement agency', and 依法 (yi1 fa3), meaning 'according to the law'.
