刑法 (xíng fǎ) literally means 'punishment law' — 刑 (xíng) refers to punishment, penalty, or criminal sanctions, while 法 (fǎ) means 'law' or 'legal system'. Together, they form the formal term for 'criminal law', the branch of law that defines crimes, establishes procedures for prosecution, and specifies punishments for offenders. It is a core component of China’s legal framework and applies to serious offenses such as theft, assault, fraud, and homicide.

In practice, 刑法 is studied by law students, applied by judges and prosecutors, and cited in court rulings. Unlike civil law (民法), which handles disputes between individuals, 刑法 involves the state prosecuting individuals on behalf of society. The People’s Republic of China has a codified Criminal Law (《中华人民共和国刑法》), first enacted in 1979 and revised several times since. It reflects both traditional legal principles and modern statutory standards, emphasizing legality, proportionality, and due process.