fànrén: 犯人 - Criminal, Convict, Prisoner

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.”

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.

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 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.

• `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)`.

• 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.