从轻发落

從輕發落

cóngqīngfāluò

idiom

Meanings

Yīn tā rènzuì tàidù hǎo, fǎguān cóngqīng fāluò.

Given his attitude, the judge handed down a lighter sentence.

Gōngsī juédìng duì tā cóngqīng fāluò.

The company decided to go easy on him.

history

From 李贽《与周友山书》 (Ming). 发落 is an old term for an official ruling or disposition; 从轻 means "going with the lighter option".

usage

Mostly legal or quasi-legal contexts — courts, school discipline, company decisions. Not casual.

从 cóng

轻 qīng

发 fā

落 luò