死刑 (sǐ xíng) literally combines 死 (sǐ), meaning 'death', and 刑 (xíng), meaning 'punishment' or 'penalty'. Together, they form the formal legal term for the death penalty — the most severe criminal punishment, involving state-sanctioned execution of a convicted person. It is used exclusively in legal, judicial, and political contexts, never in casual or figurative speech.

In China, 死刑 is reserved for extremely serious crimes such as intentional homicide, terrorism, or large-scale drug trafficking, and its application follows strict judicial review, including mandatory Supreme People’s Court approval. While the term appears in news reports, court documents, and academic discussions, it carries heavy moral and social weight — never used lightly or humorously. Unlike colloquial expressions for 'extreme consequences', 死刑 is strictly institutional and technical in usage.