犯罪

• Pinyin: fàn zuì
• Hanzi breakdown: 犯 = commit; 罪 = 罒 (net) + 非 (wrong) — caught in wrongdoing

Meaning

To commit a crime; crime. Illegal acts punishable by law.

The general term for criminal activity. Key phrases: 犯罪率 (crime rate), 犯罪分子 (criminal), 预防犯罪 (crime prevention), 有组织犯罪 (organized crime), 网络犯罪 (cybercrime). Can function as both a verb (to commit crime) and a noun (crime).

Examples

1. 青少年犯罪率的上升引起了社会的广泛关注。 The rise in juvenile crime rates has drawn widespread public attention.
2. 他因为一时冲动犯罪，毁了自己的大好前程。 He committed a crime in a moment of impulse and ruined his bright future.
3. 警方正在加大力度打击各种网络犯罪活动。 Police are intensifying efforts to crack down on various cybercrime activities.

Usage Guide

Context: law, society, news

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 犯罪需要承担法律责任。(Committing a crime requires bearing legal responsibility.)
• 这个地区的犯罪率很低。(The crime rate in this area is very low.)

Don't Say

• 把小过失说成犯罪 (Don't call minor mistakes 犯罪 — it specifically means illegal acts; use 犯错 for regular mistakes)

Origin & History

Compound of 犯 (commit) + 罪 (crime, sin). 罪 originally depicted a net (catching) over wrongdoing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal