also: たいざい
noun
serious crime; grave sin
General term for a major offense, either legal or moral. Can be used in both secular and religious contexts.
彼は大罪を犯して終身刑になった。
He committed a serious crime and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
嘘をつくことは大罪だと思っている。
I believe lying is a grave sin.
noun
mortal sin; deadly sin
Specifically in Christian theology, a sin that leads to spiritual death if unrepented. Compare with 小罪 (venial sin).
カトリックでは、大罪は神の恩恵を失わせると教えている。
In Catholicism, it is taught that mortal sin causes the loss of God's grace.
Compound of 大 (dai, 'great') and 罪 (zai, 'crime, sin'). The reading だいざい is the standard on'yomi combination; たいざい is a less common variant.