In law, a punishable act is one the law can punish. If something is punishable, you can be fined, sent to prison, or given another official penalty for doing it.

In law在法律上, a punishable act一個punishable（可處罰）的行為 is one就是 the law can punish法律可以處罰的行為。If something is punishable如果某件事是punishable的，you你 can be fined可能會被罰款，sent to prison被送進監獄，or given another official penalty for doing it或因此受到其他正式處罰。

You often hear it in the pattern punishable by…: 'punishable by a fine', 'punishable by up to two years in prison'.

You你 often hear it經常會在這個句型中聽到它 in the pattern punishable by…punishable by…：'punishable by a fine'「punishable by a fine」（可處以罰款）, 'punishable by up to two years in prison'「punishable by up to two years in prison」（最重可處兩年徒刑）。

It is a formal, legal-sounding adjective, not a word for everyday family talk — a parent who says a child will lose phone time is not using punishable.

It它 is a formal, legal-sounding adjective是一個正式、聽起來很法律的形容詞，not a word for everyday family talk不是家常對話會用的字 — a parent who says a child will lose phone time父母說孩子要被沒收手機時間時 is not using punishable不會用punishable這個字。

Though actually, punishable does not tell you how bad the act is, only that the law has a penalty ready. A small offence and a serious crime can both be punishable; the next words (by a fine, by prison) do the real work.

Though actually不過其實，punishable punishable does not tell you不會告訴你 how bad the act is這個行為有多嚴重，only只是說明 that the law has a penalty ready法律已經準備好了處罰。A small offence and a serious crime輕微違規和嚴重犯罪 can both be punishable都可能是punishable的；the next words接下來的字 (by a fine, by prison)（by a fine、by prison） do the real work才是真正說明輕重的地方。

It describes the act, not the person: the crime is punishable, not 'he is punishable' in careful legal English, though you will hear looser talk.

It它 describes the act描述的是行為，not the person不是人：the crime is punishable「the crime is punishable」（這個罪行是可處罰的），not 'he is punishable'而不是「he is punishable」 in careful legal English在講究的法律英文裡，though you will hear looser talk不過你會聽到比較鬆散的說法。