| |
| 犯人 [2025/08/10 06:43] – created xiaoer | 犯人 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
|---|
| ====== fànrén: 犯人 - Criminal, Convict, Prisoner ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** 犯人, fanren, Chinese for criminal, Chinese for prisoner, 犯人 meaning, what is a fanren, Chinese legal term, Chinese for convict, 犯人 vs 罪犯, Chinese crime and punishment. | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **犯人 (fànrén)**, which means "criminal," "convict," or "prisoner." This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context within the Chinese legal system, and practical use in modern China. Understand the difference between a **犯人 (fànrén)** and a "suspect" (**嫌疑人, xiányírén**), and see how this term is used in real-life example sentences from news reports to daily conversation about crime. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** fànrén | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A person who has committed a crime; a criminal or convict. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **犯人 (fànrén)** is the most common and direct word for a "criminal" in Chinese. It refers to someone who has broken the law, and it is often used to describe individuals who have been caught, convicted, and are serving a sentence. The term is straightforward and carries the heavy weight of social and legal transgression. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **犯 (fàn):** This character's core meaning is "to violate," "to offend," or "to commit (a crime)." It is composed of the "dog" radical (犭) on the left and a phonetic component on the right. The radical can sometimes suggest something wild, untamed, or transgressive, which fits well with the idea of breaking established rules. | |
| * **人 (rén):** One of the simplest and most fundamental characters, meaning "person" or "people." It's a pictograph of a person walking. | |
| * When combined, **犯人 (fànrén)** literally translates to "a violating person" or "crime-committing person," giving us the direct and unambiguous meaning of "criminal." | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, which places a high value on social harmony (和谐, héxié) and order, crime is seen as a serious disruption. The term **犯人 (fànrén)** reflects this by being a label that clearly separates an individual from the law-abiding collective. It's a functional, almost bureaucratic term that focuses on a person's status as a lawbreaker rather than their individual identity. | |
| A useful comparison is to the spectrum of legal terms in English. While English distinguishes carefully between a "suspect," an "accused," a "defendant," and a "convict," **犯人 (fànrén)** is a broad term that often gets used once authorities are confident of guilt, even before a formal conviction in colloquial contexts like news reports. However, in a strict legal sense, it refers to a convicted criminal. This is different from the Western ideal of "innocent until proven guilty," where media and officials are more cautious with their language. Using **犯人 (fànrén)** immediately signifies that the person is on the wrong side of the law, carrying a heavy social stigma that can be difficult to overcome. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **犯人 (fànrén)** is a standard, neutral-to-formal term used widely across Chinese society. | |
| * **In the News and Official Reports:** This is the standard term used by police, courts, and news media when reporting on arrests, trials, and imprisonment. For example, a news headline might read: "Police Successfully Capture Three Criminals" (警察成功抓获三名**犯人**). | |
| * **In TV and Movies:** Crime dramas and films constantly use **犯人** when characters like police officers or lawyers discuss cases. | |
| * **In Everyday Conversation:** While less common to discuss criminals in daily chit-chat, people use **犯人** when talking about a news story, a historical event, or warning children about "bad guys." | |
| * **Connotation:** The term is inherently negative as it describes a lawbreaker. It is not slang and is considered a standard, serious word. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 警察抓住了那个**犯人**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhuāzhù le nàge **fànrén**. | |
| * English: The police caught that criminal. | |
| * Analysis: A straightforward and common sentence demonstrating the most typical use of the word. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 这个**犯人**被判了十年有期徒刑。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhège **fànrén** bèi pàn le shí nián yǒuqī túxíng. | |
| * English: This convict was sentenced to ten years in prison. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **犯人** clearly means "convict"—someone who has been through the legal process and sentenced. The passive voice with `被 (bèi)` is common in this structure. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 监狱里关着很多**犯人**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Jiānyù lǐ guān zhe hěnduō **fànrén**. | |
| * English: There are many prisoners locked up in the prison. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence shows how **犯人** can also be used to mean "prisoner" or "inmate" when the context is a prison (`监狱`). | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * **犯人**必须遵守监狱的规定。 | |
| * Pinyin: **Fànrén** bìxū zūnshǒu jiānyù de guīdìng. | |
| * English: Prisoners must abide by the prison's regulations. | |
| * Analysis: This example uses **犯人** as the subject, stating a general rule or obligation. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 他看起来不像个**犯人**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā kànqǐlái bú xiàng ge **fànrén**. | |
| * English: He doesn't look like a criminal. | |
| * Analysis: This shows a more subjective use, based on appearance or stereotypes. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 押送**犯人**的警车开走了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yāsòng **fànrén** de jǐngchē kāi zǒu le. | |
| * English: The police car escorting the criminal drove away. | |
| * Analysis: Demonstrates a compound action `押送 (yāsòng)`, "to escort a prisoner," where **犯人** is the object. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 每个**犯人**背后都有一个故事。 | |
| * Pinyin: Měi ge **fànrén** bèihòu dōu yǒu yí ge gùshì. | |
| * English: Behind every criminal, there is a story. | |
| * Analysis: A more philosophical or empathetic use of the word, acknowledging the personhood of the criminal. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 这是一名重刑**犯人**，非常危险。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè shì yì míng zhòngxíng **fànrén**, fēicháng wēixiǎn. | |
| * English: This is a felon serving a long sentence; he is very dangerous. | |
| * Analysis: Shows how **犯人** can be modified, with `重刑 (zhòngxíng)` meaning "serious crime" or "heavy sentence." | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 法官问**犯人**是否认罪。 | |
| * Pinyin: Fǎguān wèn **fànrén** shìfǒu rènzuì. | |
| * English: The judge asked the criminal if he pleaded guilty. | |
| * Analysis: A typical courtroom scenario. `认罪 (rènzuì)` means "to plead guilty." | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 不要让**犯人**逃跑了！ | |
| * Pinyin: Búyào ràng **fànrén** táopǎo le! | |
| * English: Don't let the criminal escape! | |
| * Analysis: An urgent, imperative sentence you might hear in a movie. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **`犯人 (fànrén)` vs. `罪犯 (zuìfàn)`:** These two terms are very close and often interchangeable. **罪犯 (zuìfàn)** literally means "crime offender" (罪 zuì = crime). It can sound slightly more formal and legalistic, emphasizing the specific "crime" committed. **犯人 (fànrén)** is more common in general speech and news reporting. For a beginner, they can be treated as synonyms in most cases. | |
| * **Crucial Distinction: `犯人 (fànrén)` vs. `嫌疑人 (xiányírén)`:** This is the most common pitfall. | |
| * **犯人 (fànrén)** = Criminal/Convict. Guilt is implied or has been legally established. | |
| * **嫌疑人 (xiányírén)** = Suspect. This is the correct term for someone who is only suspected or accused of a crime. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 警察抓到了一个**犯人**，但还不确定他是不是小偷。 (Jǐngchá zhuādàole yíge **fànrén**, dàn hái bù quèdìng tā shì bùshì xiǎotōu.) -> "The police caught a **criminal**, but they aren't sure if he's the thief." (This is contradictory). | |
| * **Correct:** 警察抓到了一个**嫌疑人**，正在调查他是不是小偷。 (Jǐngchá zhuādàole yíge **xiányírén**, zhèngzài diàochá tā shì bùshì xiǎotōu.) -> "The police caught a **suspect** and are investigating whether he is the thief." | |
| * **Not Always a "Prisoner":** While many **犯人** are in prison, the term itself means "criminal." An escaped criminal is still a **犯人**, specifically a `逃犯 (táofàn)`. The term for a person physically inside a prison is more precisely `囚犯 (qiúfàn)`. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[罪犯]] (zuìfàn) - A very close synonym for "criminal," often used in more formal or legal writing. | |
| * [[嫌疑人]] (xiányírén) - Suspect; the correct term for someone who has not yet been proven guilty. | |
| * [[囚犯]] (qiúfàn) - Prisoner, inmate. A more specific word for a criminal who is incarcerated. `囚 (qiú)` means to imprison. | |
| * [[逃犯]] (táofàn) - Fugitive, escaped criminal. | |
| * [[犯罪]] (fànzuì) - (Verb/Noun) To commit a crime; (the act of) a crime. This is the action that creates a **犯人**. | |
| * [[警察]] (jǐngchá) - Police; the people responsible for catching criminals. | |
| * [[监狱]] (jiānyù) - Prison, jail. The place where convicts are held. | |
| * [[法律]] (fǎlǜ) - Law. The system of rules that defines what constitutes a crime. | |
| * [[审判]] (shěnpàn) - A trial (in court); to put someone on trial. The process that officially turns a suspect into a convict. | |