赎罪

贖罪

shúzuì

verb #8,152

Meanings

1 to atone for one's sins
2 to redeem oneself

Characters

to redeem; to ransom

crime; sin; guilt

To ransom one's sins — to atone or make amends.

Examples

他用一生来赎罪。

Tā yòng yīshēng lái shúzuì.

He spent his whole life atoning for his sins.

她觉得做善事可以赎罪。

Tā juéde zuò shànshì kěyǐ shúzuì.

She felt that doing good deeds could redeem her.

犯了错就要想办法赎罪。

Fàn le cuò jiù yào xiǎng bànfǎ shúzuì.

If you've made a mistake, you need to find a way to atone.

Tips

history

赎 originally meant to pay a ransom to buy back something or someone. 赎罪 extends this to 'buying back' one's moral standing — paying the price for one's sins.

Stroke Order

赎 shú

罪 zuì