fànzuì xiányírén: 犯罪嫌疑人 - Criminal Suspect

• Keywords: 犯罪嫌疑人, fànzuì xiányírén, criminal suspect in Chinese, Chinese legal terms, suspect vs defendant in China, fanzui xianyiren meaning, legal Mandarin, Chinese law vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the precise meaning of 犯罪嫌疑人 (fànzuì xiányírén), a formal legal term in China for a “criminal suspect.” This guide explains its specific role in the Chinese justice system, how it differs from a defendant (被告人), and its usage in news and official contexts, providing essential cultural and legal insight for learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fànzuì xiányírén
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced/Legal)
• Concise Definition: A person suspected by the authorities of committing a crime, but who has not yet been formally prosecuted.
• In a Nutshell: 犯罪嫌疑人 (fànzuì xiányírén) isn't just a casual word for someone you think did something wrong. It's an official, legal status in the Chinese criminal justice system. A person holds this title during the investigation phase, after the police have filed a case but before prosecutors have formally charged them. Think of it as “Step 1” in the legal process; once they are formally charged and the case goes to court, their title changes to “defendant” (被告人, bèigàorén).

• 犯 (fàn): To violate, to offend, to commit (a crime).
• 罪 (zuì): A crime, guilt, or sin. Together, 犯罪 (fànzuì) means “to commit a crime” or the crime itself.
• 嫌 (xián): To suspect, to dislike.
• 疑 (yí): To doubt, to be suspicious. Together, 嫌疑 (xiányí) means “suspicion.”
• 人 (rén): Person, people.

The characters combine logically: a person (人) who is under suspicion (嫌疑) for having committed a crime (犯罪).

The term 犯罪嫌疑人 (fànzuì xiányírén) highlights the procedural and bureaucratic nature of the Chinese legal system. The clear distinction between a “suspect” and a “defendant” reflects a structured process where an individual's legal status changes as the case progresses. In American/Western legal culture, the term “suspect” can be used quite broadly by media and police, sometimes even before a formal investigation is opened. A “person of interest” is even more ambiguous. While the formal transition to “defendant” occurs upon indictment, the term `犯罪嫌疑人` feels more official and codified from the outset of the investigation phase. It signifies that the state's formal machinery is now focused on this individual. This term operates within the official principle of “presumption of innocence” (无罪推定原则, wú zuì tuīdìng yuánzé) in Chinese law. Using this specific title, rather than a more loaded term like “criminal” (犯人, fànrén), is a procedural acknowledgment that guilt has not yet been proven in a court of law. It's a label of process, not of final judgment.

This is a highly formal term. You will almost exclusively encounter it in specific, official contexts.

• News Reporting: Media outlets use 犯罪嫌疑人 when reporting on ongoing police investigations and arrests. It is the standard, neutral term.
• Legal Documents: It is the official designation for the individual in police reports, interrogation transcripts, and documents from the prosecutor's office during the pre-trial phase.
• Official Announcements: Police and government press releases will use this term when announcing that a suspect has been detained or is under investigation.

It is not used in everyday, informal conversation. If you were talking to a friend about a neighbor who was taken away by the police, you would say “The police suspect he committed a crime” (警察怀疑他犯罪了, Jǐngchá huáiyí tā fànzuì le), not “He is a criminal suspect” (他是一个犯罪嫌疑人). Using the formal term in a casual setting would sound strange and overly dramatic, like reading from a law textbook.

• Example 1:
  • 警方已经锁定了一名犯罪嫌疑人。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng yǐjīng suǒdìngle yī míng fànzuì xiányírén.
  • English: The police have already identified a criminal suspect.
  • Analysis: A very common phrase used in police statements or news reports about a developing case.
• Example 2:
  • 目前，该犯罪嫌疑人已被依法刑事拘留。
  • Pinyin: Mùqián, gāi fànzuì xiányírén yǐ bèi yīfǎ xíngshì jūliú.
  • English: At present, the criminal suspect has been criminally detained in accordance with the law.
  • Analysis: This is standard official language you would hear on the news, emphasizing that the actions taken are legally grounded (“依法”, yīfǎ).
• Example 3:
  • 律师要求会见犯罪嫌疑人，但遭到了拒绝。
  • Pinyin: Lǜshī yāoqiú huìjiàn fànzuì xiányírén, dàn zāodàole jùjué.
  • English: The lawyer requested to meet with the criminal suspect, but was refused.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the term used in the context of legal rights and procedures.
• Example 4:
  • 在被正式起诉前，他的身份是犯罪嫌疑人。
  • Pinyin: Zài bèi zhèngshì qǐsù qián, tā de shēnfèn shì fànzuì xiányírén.
  • English: Before being formally prosecuted, his status is that of a criminal suspect.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly defines the term's place in the legal timeline.
• Example 5:
  • 新闻报道中反复提到这名犯罪嫌疑人的作案动机。
  • Pinyin: Xīnwén bàodào zhōng fǎnfù tídào zhè míng fànzuì xiányírén de zuò'àn dòngjī.
  • English: The news report repeatedly mentioned the criminal suspect's motive for committing the crime.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how the media uses the term while discussing details of a case.
• Example 6:
  • 审讯期间，犯罪嫌疑人保持沉默。
  • Pinyin: Shěnxùn qíjiān, fànzuì xiányírén bǎochí chénmò.
  • English: During the interrogation, the criminal suspect remained silent.
  • Analysis: Shows the term in the context of the investigation process.
• Example 7:
  • 尽管证据不足，他仍被列为头号犯罪嫌疑人。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn zhèngjù bùzú, tā réng bèi liè wèi tóuhào fànzuì xiányírén.
  • English: Despite the lack of sufficient evidence, he is still listed as the number one criminal suspect.
  • Analysis: The phrase “头号 (tóuhào)” means “number one” or “prime,” a common collocation.
• Example 8:
  • 作为犯罪嫌疑人，他有权知道自己被指控的罪名。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi fànzuì xiányírén, tā yǒu quán zhīdào zìjǐ bèi zhǐkòng de zuìmíng.
  • English: As a criminal suspect, he has the right to know the charges he is accused of.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the legal rights associated with the status of a `犯罪嫌疑人`.
• Example 9:
  • 警方正在搜集更多关于犯罪嫌疑人的线索。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng zhèngzài sōují gèng duō guānyú fànzuì xiányírén de xiànsuǒ.
  • English: The police are currently gathering more clues about the criminal suspect.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence describing police work during the investigation phase.
• Example 10:
  • 如果检察院决定起诉，犯罪嫌疑人的身份就会转变为被告人。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ jiǎncháyuàn juédìng qǐsù, fànzuì xiányírén de shēnfèn jiù huì zhuǎnbiàn wéi bèigàorén.
  • English: If the procuratorate (prosecutor's office) decides to prosecute, the criminal suspect's status will change to that of a defendant.
  • Analysis: This clearly illustrates the transition point from `犯罪嫌疑人` to `被告人`.

• Mistake 1: Using it in casual conversation.
  • A common error for learners is to use a formal word in an informal context.
  • Incorrect: 我觉得我邻居是个犯罪嫌疑人！ (Wǒ juédé wǒ línjū shìge fànzuì xiányírén!)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds like you are reading a formal police report to your friend. It's unnatural and overly serious.
  • Correct (Casual): 我怀疑我邻居做了坏事。(Wǒ huáiyí wǒ línjū zuòle huàishì.) - “I suspect my neighbor did something bad.”
• Mistake 2: Confusing `犯罪嫌疑人` with `被告人` (bèigàorén).
  • This is the most critical distinction. They are not interchangeable.
  • 犯罪嫌疑人 (fànzuì xiányírén): Criminal Suspect. This is the status during the police investigation, before formal charges are filed in court.
  • 被告人 (bèigàorén): Defendant. This is the status after the prosecutor has formally filed charges and the case is proceeding to trial. The character 告 (gào) means “to sue” or “to accuse,” so a `被告人` is “one who is being accused” in court.
  • Think of it as a timeline: Investigation Phase → 犯罪嫌疑人 → Trial Phase → 被告人.

• 被告人 (bèigàorén) - Defendant; the person who has been formally charged and is on trial. The next stage after being a `犯罪嫌疑人`.
• 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - Suspect. A shorter, slightly less formal version, but still primarily used in news and police contexts. `犯罪嫌疑人` is the full, official legal term.
• 受害人 (shòuhàirén) - Victim; the person who suffered harm from the crime.
• 证人 (zhèngrén) - Witness; a person who saw or knows something about the crime.
• 逮捕 (dàibǔ) - To arrest; the formal act of taking a suspect into custody.
• 起诉 (qǐsù) - To prosecute, to indict; the formal act by the prosecutor of bringing a case to court.
• 警察 (jǐngchá) - Police.
• 律师 (lǜshī) - Lawyer.
• 无罪推定 (wú zuì tuīdìng) - Presumption of innocence; the legal principle that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.