十恶不赦
shí è bù shè
guilty of unpardonable evil; utterly wicked
Character by character
十shí
ten
ten
恶è
evils
evils
不bù
not
not
赦shè
pardon
pardon
Example
他是犯了错，可也不是什么十恶不赦的坏人，给他一次机会吧。
He did do wrong, but he is no unpardonable villain; give him another chance.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
The 十恶 were the ten gravest crimes in imperial law codes, such as rebellion and unfiliality, which were normally excluded from amnesties (赦). Often used in the negative to defend someone: 又不是什么十恶不赦的事.
Learn this in Lesson 248 · HSK 9+: 城隍与阎王 (City gods and the king of hell)
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