connected with or used for punishment, especially by law 懲罰的；刑罰的 that can be punished by law 應受刑罰的 a penal offence 刑事犯罪
very severe 嚴重的；嚴厲的 penal rates of interest 很重的利率
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French penal, from Latin poenalis, from poena ‘pain, penalty’.