The Kanji: 賂 (Ro / Mahiru)
The kanji 賂 (read as ro) carries the core meaning of "a bribe." It is composed of the radical 貝 (shell, money) and 各 (each), historically suggesting the idea of money or valuables being given to various parties illicitly. This character is almost exclusively used in a negative context related to corruption.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 賄賂 (wairo)
Meaning: Bribe; payoff.
Example Sentence: その役人は賄賂を受け取った容疑で逮捕された。
(Sono yakunin wa wairo o uketotta yōgi de taiho sareta.)
"That official was arrested on suspicion of taking bribes."
2. 贈賄 (zōwai)
Meaning: Bribe-giving; offering a bribe.
Example Sentence: 贈賄は重大な犯罪である。
(Zōwai wa jūdai na hanzai de aru.)
"Bribe-giving is a serious crime."
3. 収賄 (shūwai)
Meaning: Bribe-taking; accepting a bribe.
Example Sentence: 収賄事件で政治家が辞任した。
(Shūwai jiken de seijika ga jinin shita.)
"A politician resigned over a bribe-taking scandal."
In summary, 賂 is a kanji with a singular, negative focus on illicit payments. It is almost never used alone and appears in critical compounds like 賄賂 (bribe), 贈賄 (giving a bribe), and 収賄 (taking a bribe), all central to discussions of corruption and ethics.