The kanji 罪 罪 primarily conveys the concept of "crime," "sin," "guilt," or "fault." It encompasses actions that violate moral principles, societal rules, or legal regulations. It suggests a wrongdoing that warrants punishment or reprimand, involving a transgression or deviation from what is considered right.

・On-yomi (音読み): ザイ (zai) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): つみ (tsumi)

⚫︎罪を犯す Translation: To commit a crime. ⚫︎有罪判決 Translation: Guilty verdict. ⚫︎罪悪感 Translation: Feeling of guilt.

The kanji 罪 罪 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). The left part is 罒(net, the upper part is a simplified form of 网 net. Originally, it showed a crime with a net. ) and it means "net" or "trap". The right side is 非(not). The original meaning of the whole character was something like "caught by the net of injustice", or a "crime" caught within the confines of law or morality. The "net" part emphasizes the idea of being caught or ensnared by wrongdoing.