刑罰

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 刑罰 is read as けいばつ and is a noun for a criminal punishment or penalty imposed under law and judicial process.
• Basic usage: A judge deciding it appears in 刑罰を決める, while historical examples appear in 昔の刑罰.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Punishment grounded in law
  • It denotes an official consequence tied to crime and a legal process rather than an everyday reprimand.
• Difference from 罰
  • 罰 broadly means punishment for breaking a rule, whereas 刑罰 is specifically a criminal penalty under law.