無む期き懲ちょう役えき

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き

ちょ

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Meanings

1

noun

life imprisonment; indefinite imprisonment

Legal term for a sentence of imprisonment without a fixed term; in practice, parole may be possible after a certain period.

無nothingness, none, ain't

期period, time, date

懲penal, chastise, punish

役duty, war, campaign

終しゅう身しん刑けい
終身刑 is a sentence of imprisonment for the entirety of one's life without the possibility of parole, whereas 無期懲役 is indefinite imprisonment with the possibility of parole.
有ゆう期き懲ちょう役えき
有期懲役 is imprisonment for a fixed term, in contrast to the indefinite term of 無期懲役.

Compound of 無期 (indefinite, no fixed term) and 懲役 (imprisonment with labor).