Decriminalization is what happens when a government officially says that something is not a crime any more. After that, the police should not arrest you for it, and you should not get a criminal record just for doing it.

Decriminalization除罪化 is what happens指的是 when a government officially says當政府正式宣布 that something is not a crime any more某件事不再算是犯罪的時候會發生的事. After that在那之後, the police警察 should not arrest you for it不應該再因為這件事逮捕你, and而且 you should not get a criminal record just for doing it你也不會只因為做了這件事就留下犯罪紀錄.

Though actually, that is not the same as saying the thing is fully allowed. The law can still dislike it: you might still get a small fine, or you might still not be allowed to sell it in a shop.

Though actually不過事實上, that is not the same as saying the thing is fully allowed這跟說這件事完全被允許是不一樣的. The law法律 can still dislike it還是可以不喜歡它: you你 might still get a small fine可能還是會被罰一點小錢, or you或者你 might still not be allowed to sell it in a shop可能還是不能在店裡賣它.

News writers, lawyers, and campaigners use this word a lot — especially about drugs such as cannabis, and sometimes about sex work. It is a politics-and-law word, more at home in newspapers than in a chat with friends.

News writers, lawyers, and campaigners記者、律師和倡議者 use this word a lot很常用這個詞 — especially about drugs such as cannabis尤其是講到像大麻這樣的毒品時, and sometimes about sex work有時候也講到性工作. It is a politics-and-law word這是一個政治和法律用詞, more at home in newspapers在報紙上比較常見 than in a chat with friends比在朋友聊天時常見.

Many people hear it and think, “so now it is legal.” That jump is too big. Legalization is the stronger step: the law not only stops calling you a criminal, it actually permits the thing. Decriminalization only takes the criminal label off.

Many people許多人 hear it聽到這個詞 and think就會想, "so now it is legal."「所以現在這是合法的了」 That jump這個推論的跳躍 is too big太大了. Legalization合法化 is the stronger step才是更進一步的做法: the law法律 not only stops calling you a criminal不只是不再把你當犯人看, it actually permits the thing它是真的准許這件事. Decriminalization除罪化 only takes the criminal label off只是把犯罪的標籤拿掉而已.