How to talk about sanctions in Chinese (制裁

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If you happen to be talking about sanctions (制裁 – Zhìcái) in Chinese this week, here are the essentials you’ll need:

制裁 (Zhìcái) in Chinese, as in English, can be a noun or a verb; if used as a verb it’s slightly more informal than as a noun, and more in spoken language

中国制裁英国九名人员和四个实体 – China has sanctioned nine British individuals and four entities
As a noun, the main verbs to use with ‘sanction’ in Chinese are:

实施 (Shíshī) – implement

进行 (Jìnxíng) – to carry out

实行 (Shíxíng) – implement (not used as much)

加以 (Jiā yǐ) – to inflict upon – more formal, and normally when something is done in addition to previous actions
Whereas in English, there are less choices of which verb to use – normally it is ‘impose sanctions’
Other vocab you’ll beed to discuss this depressing topic:

反制裁 (Fǎn zhìcái) – counter-sanctions

报复性 (Bàofù xìng) – retaliatory

中国对欧盟实施报复性制裁 – China has imposed retaliatory sanctions on the EU

联手制裁 (Liánshǒu zhìcái) – coordinated sanctions

针锋相对 (Zhēn fēng xiāng duì) – tit for tat

中方对欧美英联手制裁进行针锋相对 – China imposed tit for tat sanctions in response to coordinated sanctions from the EU, US and UK

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