案件

• Pinyin: àn jiàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 案 = 宀 (roof) + 安 (peace) + 木 (wood), originally a table; 件 = 亻(person) + 牛 (cow), meaning item

Meaning

Case (legal or criminal); matter under investigation.

Refers to legal cases, criminal investigations, or official matters requiring examination. Commonly used in legal, police, and news contexts.

Examples

1. 这起案件引起了社会的广泛关注。 This case has attracted widespread public attention.
2. 警方正在全力侦破这起案件。 The police are working hard to solve this case.
3. 法院每年要审理成千上万起案件。 Courts handle thousands of cases every year.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, news

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 这是一起复杂的案件。(This is a complicated case.)
• 案件还在调查中。(The case is still under investigation.)

Don't Say

• 把日常小事说成'案件' (Don't call everyday matters 案件 — it's for legal/official matters)

Origin & History

案 (desk/case record) + 件 (item/matter). Together: a matter on record.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal