zuìfàn: 罪犯 - Criminal, Offender

• Keywords: zuifan, zui fan, 罪犯, criminal in Chinese, offender in Chinese, how to say criminal in Chinese, Chinese word for convict, law and order in China, Chinese legal terms, Chinese vocabulary
• Summary: Learn how to say 'criminal' or 'offender' in Chinese with the word 罪犯 (zuìfàn). This guide explores the meaning of 罪犯, a formal legal term used to describe someone who has committed and often been convicted of a crime. We'll break down the characters 罪 (crime) and 犯 (to violate), examine its use in modern Chinese society, and provide numerous example sentences to help you master this important vocabulary related to law and order in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuìfàn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A person who has committed a crime; a criminal, offender, or convict.
• In a Nutshell: 罪犯 (zuìfàn) is a formal and serious term for a criminal. It's not a casual insult you throw around. Think of it as the official label for someone who has broken the law, especially after they have been caught or convicted. It carries the full weight of the legal system and is the standard term you'd see in a news report or a police statement.

• 罪 (zuì): This character means “crime,” “guilt,” or “sin.” It's composed of 网 (wǎng), meaning “net,” and 非 (fēi), meaning “wrong” or “not.” Pictorially, you can imagine it as a net (网) used to catch those who do wrong (非).
• 犯 (fàn): This character means “to violate,” “to offend,” or “to transgress.” It consists of the “dog” radical (犭) on the left and a phonetic component on the right. The radical hints at an aggressive action, like a dog attacking, which extends to the meaning of violating a rule or law.
• The two characters combine literally to mean “crime-violator” or “one who offends with a crime,” which perfectly describes a criminal.

In Chinese culture, the label 罪犯 (zuìfàn) carries an immense social stigma. It's a formal declaration of wrongdoing that brings shame not just to the individual but often to their entire family. This is connected to the collectivist nature of Chinese society, where an individual's actions reflect on their family, community, and ancestors. The concept of “losing face” (丢脸, diūliǎn) is severe for a 罪犯 and their relatives. Compared to the English word “criminal,” 罪犯 is often used in a more definitive, post-conviction sense. In Western legal culture, particularly in the US, the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” is a very prominent public concept. While China's legal system also has this principle, the term 罪犯 is most precisely used for a convicted person. The media and public might refer to someone under investigation as a “criminal suspect” (犯罪嫌疑人, fànzuì xiányírén) rather than a 罪犯. Using 罪犯 implies a degree of certainty about the person's guilt.

罪犯 (zuìfàn) is a formal and official term. You will encounter it primarily in the following contexts:

• News and Media: In newspaper articles, TV news, and online reports about arrests, trials, and prison sentences.
• Legal System: In court documents, police reports, and legal discussions.
• Formal Discussions: When seriously discussing social issues like crime rates, prison reform, or justice.

It is not an informal word. You wouldn't call a friend who cheated at cards a 罪犯 (unless you were being highly dramatic and sarcastic). For general “bad guys,” you would use a word like 坏人 (huàirén).

• Example 1:
  • 警察终于抓住了那名罪犯。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhōngyú zhuāzhù le nà míng zuìfàn.
  • English: The police finally caught that criminal.
  • Analysis: A common, straightforward sentence you might see in a news report. It refers to a person who is confirmed to have committed a crime.
• Example 2:
  • 这名罪犯被判处无期徒刑。
  • Pinyin: Zhè míng zuìfàn bèi pànchǔ wúqī túxíng.
  • English: This criminal was sentenced to life imprisonment.
  • Analysis: Here, 罪犯 clearly means “convict”—a person who has gone through a trial and received a sentence. The particle 被 (bèi) indicates the passive voice.
• Example 3:
  • 我们应该给罪犯改过自新的机会。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yīnggāi gěi zuìfàn gǎiguò zìxīn de jīhuì.
  • English: We should give criminals a chance to repent and start anew.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the term used in a social policy context, discussing the rehabilitation of offenders.
• Example 4:
  • 这部电影讲述了一个罪犯的救赎故事。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng jiǎngshù le yí ge zuìfàn de jiùshú gùshi.
  • English: This movie tells the redemption story of a criminal.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of 罪犯 in storytelling and media.
• Example 5:
  • 他从一个受人尊敬的商人变成了一个经济罪犯。
  • Pinyin: Tā cóng yí ge shòu rén zūnjìng de shāngrén biànchéng le yí ge jīngjì zuìfàn.
  • English: He went from a respected businessman to an economic criminal.
  • Analysis: Shows how 罪犯 can be modified to specify the type of crime, in this case, “economic criminal.”
• Example 6:
  • 对待罪犯，我们必须依靠法律，而不是私刑。
  • Pinyin: Duìdài zuìfàn, wǒmen bìxū yīkào fǎlǜ, ér búshì sīxíng.
  • English: When dealing with criminals, we must rely on the law, not lynchings/vigilante justice.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the term's connection to the formal legal process.
• Example 7:
  • 警方正在全国范围内通缉这名在逃罪犯。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng zhèngzài quánguó fànwéi nèi tōngjī zhè míng zàitáo zuìfàn.
  • English: The police are conducting a nationwide manhunt for this escaped criminal.
  • Analysis: “在逃罪犯 (zàitáo zuìfàn)” is a common collocation meaning “fugitive” or “escaped criminal.”
• Example 8:
  • 每个罪犯背后，可能都有一个复杂的故事。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge zuìfàn bèihòu, kěnéng dōu yǒu yí ge fùzá de gùshi.
  • English: Behind every criminal, there might be a complicated story.
  • Analysis: A more philosophical use of the word, encouraging deeper thought about the causes of crime.
• Example 9:
  • 那个地区的罪犯团伙已经被警方一网打尽了。
  • Pinyin: Nàge dìqū de zuìfàn tuánhuǒ yǐjīng bèi jǐngfāng yīwǎngdǎjìn le.
  • English: The criminal gang in that area has been completely wiped out by the police.
  • Analysis: Shows 罪犯 used to describe members of a group or gang (团伙, tuánhuǒ).
• Example 10:
  • 在法官宣判之前，他只是嫌疑人，而不是罪犯。
  • Pinyin: Zài fǎguān xuānpàn zhīqián, tā zhǐshì xiányírén, ér búshì zuìfàn.
  • English: Before the judge announces the verdict, he is only a suspect, not a criminal.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the crucial distinction between a suspect (嫌疑人) and a confirmed criminal (罪犯).

• `罪犯 (zuìfàn)` vs. `嫌疑人 (xiányírén)`: This is the most critical distinction for a learner.
  • 罪犯 (zuìfàn): A criminal, an offender, often one who has been tried and convicted. Guilt is established.
  • 嫌疑人 (xiányírén): A suspect. Guilt is not yet proven.
  • Incorrect Usage: `警察抓住了一个罪犯，但还没有证据。` (The police caught a criminal, but there's no evidence yet.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is a logical contradiction. If there is no evidence, the person is a `嫌疑人 (xiányírén)`, not a `罪犯 (zuìfàn)`.
  • Correct Usage: `警察抓住了一个嫌疑人，正在寻找证据。` (The police caught a suspect and are looking for evidence.)
• `罪犯 (zuìfàn)` vs. `坏人 (huàirén)`: Don't confuse a legal status with a moral judgment.
  • 罪犯 (zuìfàn): A legal term for someone who broke the law.
  • 坏人 (huàirén): “Bad person.” This is a moral, informal judgment. Someone can be a `坏人` (e.g., selfish, unkind, a liar) without being a `罪犯`. Conversely, someone might commit a minor crime (and thus be a `罪犯`) without being seen as a fundamentally “bad person.”

• 犯罪 (fànzuì) - The verb “to commit a crime.” 罪犯 is the person who does this.
• 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - A “suspect.” This is the person's status before being confirmed as a 罪犯.
• 犯人 (fànrén) - “Prisoner” or “inmate.” While very similar to 罪犯, 犯人 more specifically refers to a criminal who is currently incarcerated.
• 警察 (jǐngchá) - “Police.” The authority responsible for catching a 罪犯.
• 法律 (fǎlǜ) - “Law.” The system of rules that a 罪犯 violates.
• 法院 (fǎyuàn) - “Courthouse.” The place where a 罪犯 is tried.
• 判刑 (pànxíng) - The verb “to sentence” a convicted criminal.
• 罪名 (zuìmíng) - “Criminal charge.” The specific crime a 罪犯 is accused of (e.g., the charge of theft, 盗窃罪名).
• 坏人 (huàirén) - “Bad person.” The informal, moral equivalent, not a legal term.
• 监狱 (jiānyù) - “Prison.” The place where a 罪犯 is often sent after being sentenced.