shěnxùn: 审讯 - To Interrogate, Interrogation, Trial

• Keywords: shenxun, shěnxùn, 审讯, what does shenxun mean, Chinese for interrogate, interrogation in Chinese, Chinese legal terms, police interrogation, Chinese trial, cross-examine in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and use of 审讯 (shěnxùn), the formal Chinese word for “interrogation” or “trial.” This page breaks down its use in legal and police contexts, explains its cultural significance in the Chinese justice system, and provides numerous example sentences. Understanding 审讯 is key to grasping Chinese crime dramas, news reports, and discussions about the law, differentiating it from simply “asking a question.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shěn xùn
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To formally interrogate a suspect or witness in a legal proceeding; an official interrogation or trial.
• In a Nutshell: 审讯 (shěnxùn) is not just “asking questions.” It's a serious, official, and high-stakes process. Think of a tense scene in a police station or a courtroom where a detective or judge is formally questioning a suspect to uncover the truth about a crime. The word carries the full weight of the law and the justice system.

• 审 (shěn): This character is composed of the “roof” radical (宀) over 申 (shēn). 宀 suggests a building, like a courthouse or an office. 申 means “to state” or “to explain.” Together, 审 means to examine or judge statements within an official setting. Its core meaning is to examine, investigate, or judge.
• 讯 (xùn): This character features the “speech” radical (言) on the left. The right side provides the sound. 言 makes it clear that this character is about words and communication. 讯 means to question, inquire, or send a message.
• When combined, 审讯 (shěnxùn) literally means “to examine through questioning.” This powerfully captures the essence of a formal, legally-sanctioned interrogation aimed at establishing facts.

审讯 (shěnxùn) holds a very specific and formal place in Chinese culture, reflecting the authority of the state's legal and security apparatus. Unlike the English word “questioning,” which can be very casual, 审讯 is almost exclusively used in the context of criminal investigation and judicial proceedings. In Western culture, the concept of “interrogation” often carries a strong media-influenced image of a “good cop, bad cop” dynamic. Similarly, Chinese films and TV dramas frequently depict 审讯 as a tense psychological battle between a calm, clever detective and a stubborn suspect. These portrayals shape the public's understanding of the term as a critical, truth-seeking moment in the justice process. The term underscores a hierarchical power dynamic: the state (represented by the police or judge) has the authority to conduct the 审讯, and the individual (the suspect or witness) has the obligation to answer. This is less about a conversation between equals and more about a formal procedure to maintain social order and enforce the law.

审讯 (shěnxùn) is a formal word you will encounter most frequently in specific contexts.

• Legal and Police Work: This is its primary domain. Police 审讯 suspects (警察审讯嫌疑人), and judges 审讯 defendants and witnesses in court. It is the standard technical term.
• News and Media: News reports about criminal cases will always use 审讯 to describe the interrogation or trial process.
• Historical Context: When discussing historical trials or inquisitions, 审讯 is the appropriate term.
• Figurative or Humorous Use: In very rare, informal cases, someone might use 审讯 hyperbolically to describe intense questioning. For example, a teenager coming home late might jokingly say they faced an “interrogation” (一场审讯) from their parents. This usage relies on the listener understanding the term's serious, formal origin to get the joke.

Its connotation is generally neutral to slightly negative, as it implies that the person being interrogated is under suspicion of wrongdoing. It is a formal, serious word.

• Example 1:
  • 警察正在审讯那名犯罪嫌疑人。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài shěnxùn nà míng fànzuì xiányírén.
  • English: The police are currently interrogating that criminal suspect.
  • Analysis: This is the most classic and direct use of 审讯 as a verb in a law enforcement context.
• Example 2:
  • 这次审讯从早上一直持续到深夜。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì shěnxùn cóng zǎoshang yīzhí chíxù dào shēnyè.
  • English: This interrogation (or trial session) lasted from morning until late at night.
  • Analysis: Here, 审讯 is used as a noun, referring to the entire event of the interrogation.
• Example 3:
  • 他因涉嫌商业欺诈而被审讯。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīn shèxián shāngyè qīzhà ér bèi shěnxùn.
  • English: He was interrogated on suspicion of commercial fraud.
  • Analysis: This example uses the passive structure with 被 (bèi), which is common when the subject is the one receiving the action of being interrogated.
• Example 4:
  • 在审讯过程中，律师必须在场保护被告的权利。
  • Pinyin: Zài shěnxùn guòchéng zhōng, lǜshī bìxū zàichǎng bǎohù bèigào de quánlì.
  • English: During the interrogation process, the lawyer must be present to protect the defendant's rights.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the procedural and legal nature of 审讯.
• Example 5:
  • 一回到家，我就遭到了父母连珠炮似的审讯。
  • Pinyin: Yī huí dào jiā, wǒ jiù zāodào le fùmǔ liánzhūpào sì de shěnxùn.
  • English: As soon as I got home, I was subjected to a barrage of interrogation from my parents.
  • Analysis: This is a great example of the figurative, humorous use of 审讯. The phrase 连珠炮似的 (liánzhūpào sì de) means “like a string of firecrackers,” emphasizing the rapid-fire nature of the “interrogation.”
• Example 6:
  • 法官宣布休庭，明天继续审讯。
  • Pinyin: Fǎguān xuānbù xiū tíng, míngtiān jìxù shěnxùn.
  • English: The judge announced a recess; the trial will continue tomorrow.
  • Analysis: In a courtroom context, 审讯 can refer to the trial or the questioning part of the trial.
• Example 7:
  • 面对经验丰富的警官，他没能通过这次审讯。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì jīngyàn fēngfù de jǐngguān, tā méi néng tōngguò zhè cì shěnxùn.
  • English: Facing the experienced police officer, he failed to get through this interrogation.
  • Analysis: This treats the 审讯 like a test or an ordeal that one must “pass” or “get through” (通过).
• Example 8:
  • 经过几轮审讯，警方终于掌握了关键证据。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò jǐ lún shěnxùn, jǐngfāng zhōngyú zhǎngwò le guānjiàn zhèngjù.
  • English: After several rounds of interrogation, the police finally obtained the key evidence.
  • Analysis: This shows that an investigation can involve multiple sessions of 审讯. 轮 (lún) is a measure word for rounds or sessions.
• Example 9:
  • 这部电影里有很多紧张的法庭审讯场面。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng lǐ yǒu hěn duō jǐnzhāng de fǎtíng shěnxùn chǎngmiàn.
  • English: This movie has a lot of tense courtroom trial scenes.
  • Analysis: A common usage when discussing media like films or TV shows.
• Example 10:
  • 证人在接受审讯时不能撒谎。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngrén zài jiēshòu shěnxùn shí bùnéng sāhuǎng.
  • English: Witnesses cannot lie when they are being questioned in a trial.
  • Analysis: This highlights that not only suspects, but also witnesses, can undergo 审讯. 接受 (jiēshòu) means “to receive” or “to accept.”

The most common mistake for learners is using 审讯 (shěnxùn) for general, everyday questions. It is a severe and context-specific word.

• 审讯 (shěnxùn) vs. 问 (wèn):
  • 问 (wèn) simply means “to ask.” It's what you do every day.
    • Correct: 我问老师一个问题。(Wǒ wèn lǎoshī yīgè wèntí.) - I asked the teacher a question.
    • Incorrect: 我审讯老师一个问题。 (Wǒ shěnxùn lǎoshī yīgè wèntí.) - This is grammatically correct but sounds absurd and disrespectful. It implies you are a police officer formally interrogating your teacher about a crime.
• 审讯 (shěnxùn) vs. 盘问 (pánwèn):
  • 盘问 (pánwèn) means “to cross-examine” or “to question closely/intensively.” It is also serious, but can be used in slightly less formal situations than 审讯. A security guard might 盘问 a suspicious person, or a journalist might 盘问 a politician. 审讯 is almost exclusively reserved for official legal/police procedures.
    • Example: 保安盘问了那个试图进入大楼的陌生人。(Bǎo'ān pánwèn le nàge shìtú jìnrù dàlóu de mòshēngrén.) - The security guard questioned the stranger who was trying to enter the building. Using 审讯 here would be too formal, implying the guard was conducting a legal interrogation.

• 审判 (shěnpàn) - Trial; to bring to trial. This refers to the entire judicial process of a trial, of which 审讯 (interrogation/questioning) is a key part.
• 盘问 (pánwèn) - To cross-examine; to grill. A similar but slightly less formal term for intense questioning.
• 调查 (diàochá) - To investigate; investigation. The broader process of finding facts. A 审讯 is one tool used during a 调查.
• 质询 (zhìxún) - To interpellate; to question (formally). Often used in political or corporate contexts, like a parliament questioning a minister.
• 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - A suspect. The person most often subjected to a 审讯.
• 犯人 (fànrén) - A criminal; a prisoner.
• 法庭 (fǎtíng) - Courtroom; court. The location where a judicial 审讯 takes place.
• 供词 (gòngcí) - A (written or oral) confession. Often the goal or result of a successful 审讯.
• 警察 (jǐngchá) - Police. The people who most commonly conduct a 审讯.
• 律师 (lǜshī) - Lawyer. A key participant in a formal 审讯.