Hardened criminal
Meaning: An experienced, unrepentant criminal who has been through the justice system multiple times.
Someone who has been 'hardened' by repeated exposure to crime, prison, and the justice system. They are considered unlikely to reform. The criminal justice system is often described as 'hardening' people rather than rehabilitating them.
Examples
- After three prison sentences, he was a hardened criminal. 三次入狱之后,他已经成了一个铁杆罪犯。Tras tres condenas de prisión, era un criminal empedernido.3度の刑務所入りを経て、彼は筋金入りの犯罪者になった。세 번의 수감 후, 그는 전과가 많은 범죄자가 되었다.
- You can't treat a hardened criminal the same as a first-time offender. 不能把惯犯和初犯同等对待。No se puede tratar a un criminal empedernido igual que a un delincuente primerizo.筋金入りの犯罪者と初犯を同じように扱うことはできない。전과가 많은 범죄자와 초범을 같은 방식으로 대할 수는 없다.
- Prison doesn't rehabilitate — it creates hardened criminals. 监狱不能使人改过——只会制造出更多惯犯。La prisión no rehabilita — crea criminales empedernidos.刑務所は更生させない——筋金入りの犯罪者を生み出すだけだ。교도소는 갱생시키지 않는다 — 전과가 많은 범죄자를 양산할 뿐이다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: criminal justice, recidivism, sentencing
Tone: judgmental, descriptive
✓ Do Say
- He's a hardened criminal.他是个惯犯。Es un criminal empedernido.He's a hardened criminal.(彼は筋金入りの犯罪者だ。)그는 전과가 많은 범죄자야.
- Years in prison hardened him.多年的牢狱生活使他变得冷酷无情。Los años en prisión lo endurecieron.Years in prison hardened him.(何年もの刑務所生活が彼を変えた。)수년간의 수감 생활이 그를 단련시켰다.
✗ Don't Say
- This label can be dehumanizing — people are more than their worst actions.这个标签可能带有去人性化的意味——人不应仅被其最恶劣的行为所定义。Esta etiqueta puede ser deshumanizante — las personas son más que sus peores actos.このレッテルは人間性を否定しかねない——人は最悪の行為だけで定義されるべきではない。이 꼬리표는 비인간적일 수 있다 — 사람은 자신의 최악의 행동 그 이상이다.
Origin & History
From the metaphor of being 'hardened' — made tough and unyielding by repeated exposure. In use since the 1800s in American criminal justice discourse.
Cultural Context
Era: Traditional
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: All regions — universal American slang
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