fànzuì: 犯罪 - To Commit a Crime; Crime

• Keywords: fànzuì, 犯罪, commit a crime in Chinese, Chinese word for crime, Chinese law, criminal act, illegal activity in China, Chinese legal terms, fanzui pinyin, what is fanzui.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 犯罪 (fànzuì), which means “crime” or “to commit a crime.” This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, character origins, cultural significance within the Chinese legal system, and practical usage. With over 10 example sentences and analysis, you'll understand how to use `fànzuì` correctly in formal contexts like news and legal discussions, and distinguish it from related terms like `违法 (wéifǎ)` (to break the law) and `犯错 (fàncuò)` (to make a mistake).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fànzuì
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To commit a crime; a crime or criminal offense.
• In a Nutshell: `犯罪` is the formal and legal term for any action that breaks the criminal law. Think of it as the word you would see in a police report, a court document, or a serious news broadcast. It carries significant weight and is not used for minor, everyday mistakes. It refers to a serious transgression against the state and society that warrants legal punishment.

• 犯 (fàn): This character means “to violate,” “to offend,” or “to transgress.” It's composed of the “dog” radical (犭) on the left and a component (巳) that originally depicted a person kneeling. The combination suggests an animal or person overstepping a boundary or acting unruly—a violation.
• 罪 (zuì): This character means “crime,” “guilt,” or “sin.” The top part (罒) is a variation of the character for “net” (网), and the bottom part (非) means “wrong” or “not.” Pictorially, it represents being “caught in the net of wrongdoing.”
• Together, 犯罪 (fànzuì) literally translates to “violate a crime,” which is understood as the act of committing a crime. The characters combine to form a clear and direct legal concept.

`犯罪` is more than just a legal definition; it's deeply tied to the Chinese cultural emphasis on social order and harmony. In Western cultures, the legal principle of “innocent until proven guilty” is a cornerstone of public consciousness. While this principle is also codified in Chinese law, the cultural weight of being accused of a `犯罪` is immense. An accusation alone can bring great shame (see 面子 (miànzi)) not just to the individual, but to their entire family. The focus is often on the disruption of social stability caused by the act. Therefore, `犯罪` is seen as an offense against the collective good and the state's authority, not just a violation of an abstract rule. This contrasts with a more individualistic Western perspective where a crime is often framed as an offense by one individual against another. The term is a pillar in China's ongoing development of “rule of law” (法治 fǎzhì), representing a shift towards a more formalized and codified legal system.

`犯罪` is a formal and serious term. Its use is largely confined to specific, non-casual contexts.

• Legal and Official Contexts: This is the primary domain for `犯罪`. You will hear and see it constantly in police statements, court proceedings, and legal documents. For example, `犯罪嫌疑人 (fànzuì xiányírén)` means “criminal suspect.”
• News Media: Journalists use `犯罪` when reporting on arrests, trials, and criminal investigations. Phrases like `犯罪率 (fànzuìlǜ)` (crime rate) and `打击犯罪 (dǎjī fànzuì)` (to crack down on crime) are common.
• Formal Discussions: When discussing social issues like juvenile delinquency or organized crime, `犯罪` is the appropriate term.
• Hyperbole (Rare): In very informal situations, someone might jokingly say “你这是在犯罪!” (Nǐ zhè shì zài fànzuì! - What you're doing is a crime!) in response to something outrageous (like putting pineapple on their pizza), but this is clearly dramatic exaggeration.

• Example 1:
  • 他因犯罪而入狱。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīn fànzuì ér rùyù.
  • English: He was imprisoned for committing a crime.
  • Analysis: A straightforward sentence showing `犯罪` as the reason for a legal consequence. `因…而…` is a common structure for “because of… therefore…”.
• Example 2:
  • 我们必须采取措施预防犯罪。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū cǎiqǔ cuòshī yùfáng fànzuì.
  • English: We must take measures to prevent crime.
  • Analysis: Here, `犯罪` is used as a noun, referring to the general concept of “crime.” `预防 (yùfáng)` means “to prevent.”
• Example 3:
  • 这个城市的犯罪率逐年下降。
  • Pinyin: Zhège chéngshì de fànzuìlǜ zhúnián xiàjiàng.
  • English: This city's crime rate is decreasing year by year.
  • Analysis: `犯罪率 (fànzuìlǜ)` is a set phrase meaning “crime rate,” a very common term in sociology and news reports.
• Example 4:
  • 警察正在调查这起犯罪案件。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài diàochá zhè qǐ fànzuì ànjiàn.
  • English: The police are investigating this criminal case.
  • Analysis: `犯罪` acts as an adjective modifying `案件 (ànjiàn)` (case) to specify it's a criminal case. `起 (qǐ)` is a measure word for cases or incidents.
• Example 5:
  • 任何人都不能以贫穷为借口去犯罪。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé rén dōu bùnéng yǐ pínqióng wéi jièkǒu qù fànzuì.
  • English: No one can use poverty as an excuse to commit a crime.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `犯罪` as a verb. `以…为借口 (yǐ…wéi jièkǒu)` means “to use… as an excuse.”
• Example 6:
  • 他被指控犯有严重的经济犯罪。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi zhǐkòng fàn yǒu yánzhòng de jīngjì fànzuì.
  • English: He was accused of committing serious economic crimes.
  • Analysis: Shows how `犯罪` can be paired with categories, like `经济犯罪` (economic crime) or `网络犯罪` (cybercrime).
• Example 7:
  • 青少年犯罪是一个复杂的社会问题。
  • Pinyin: Qīngshàonián fànzuì shì yīgè fùzá de shèhuì wèntí.
  • English: Juvenile delinquency (youth crime) is a complex social issue.
  • Analysis: `青少年犯罪` is a standard term for juvenile crime.
• Example 8:
  • 电影的主题是关于犯罪和救赎。
  • Pinyin: Diànyǐng de zhǔtí shì guānyú fànzuì hé jiùshú.
  • English: The movie's theme is about crime and redemption.
  • Analysis: Using `犯罪` as a thematic noun in the context of art or literature.
• Example 9:
  • 他犯罪的动机是为了给家人治病。
  • Pinyin: Tā fànzuì de dòngjī shì wèile gěi jiārén zhìbìng.
  • English: His motive for committing the crime was to pay for his family's medical treatment.
  • Analysis: `犯罪的动机 (fànzuì de dòngjī)` means “motive for the crime.”
• Example 10:
  • 这里是犯罪现场，请不要靠近。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ shì fànzuì xiànchǎng, qǐng bùyào kàojìn.
  • English: This is a crime scene, please do not come near.
  • Analysis: `犯罪现场 (fànzuì xiànchǎng)` is the direct and standard translation for “crime scene.”

• Mistake 1: Using `犯罪` for minor errors.

A common mistake is to use `犯罪` for any mistake or rule-breaking. It is much more serious. Forgetting a friend's birthday is a “mistake” (`错误 cuòwù`), not a “crime” (`犯罪`).

• Incorrect: 你迟到了，这是犯罪！ (Nǐ chídào le, zhè shì fànzuì!) - You're late, this is a crime! (Overly dramatic and incorrect).
• Correct: 你迟到了，你犯了一个错误。(Nǐ chídào le, nǐ fàn le yīgè cuòwù.) - You're late, you made a mistake.
• Also Correct: 你怎么又迟到了！(Nǐ zěnme yòu chídào le!) - How could you be late again! (More natural expression of annoyance).
• Mistake 2: Confusing `犯罪 (fànzuì)` with `违法 (wéifǎ)`.

`违法` means “to break the law” and is broader than `犯罪`. All crimes (`犯罪`) are illegal acts (`违法`), but not all illegal acts are crimes. A parking ticket is `违法`, but it is not `犯罪`. `犯罪` refers specifically to violations of the criminal law, which are more serious.

• Mistake 3: Confusing `犯罪 (fànzuì)` with `有罪 (yǒu zuì)`.

`犯罪` is the act or concept of committing a crime. `有罪 (yǒu zuì)` means “to be guilty.”

• `他犯罪了 (Tā fànzuì le)` - He committed a crime. (Describes the action).
• `法官判他有罪 (Fǎguān pàn tā yǒu zuì)` - The judge found him guilty. (Describes the legal state/verdict).

• 违法 (wéifǎ) - To break the law. A broader term that includes non-criminal infractions like traffic violations. `犯罪` is a serious form of `违法`.
• 犯法 (fànfǎ) - To break the law. A common, slightly more colloquial synonym for `违法`.
• 罪犯 (zuìfàn) - A criminal, a convict. The noun for a person who has been convicted of a `犯罪`.
• 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - A suspect. Often used in the compound `犯罪嫌疑人 (fànzuì xiányírén)`.
• 案件 (ànjiàn) - A (legal) case. Refers to a specific incident being handled by the police or courts.
• 法律 (fǎlǜ) - Law. The set of rules that defines what constitutes a `犯罪`.
• 警察 (jǐngchá) - Police. The authorities who investigate `犯罪`.
• 判刑 (pànxíng) - To sentence (a person to prison). The punishment for a `犯罪`.
• 罪恶 (zuì'è) - Sin, evil. This term has stronger moral and ethical connotations, whereas `犯罪` is a purely legal term.
• 犯错 (fàncuò) - To make a mistake, to err. This is for general errors and has no legal implication. It's a key term to distinguish from `犯罪`.