通缉

• Pinyin: tōng jī
• Hanzi breakdown: 通 = 辶 + 甬 — throughout; 缉 = 纟 + 咠 — to arrest, to seize

Meaning

To issue a wanted notice; to put out an arrest warrant for someone.

An official order issued by law enforcement to apprehend a fugitive. Often used in the phrase 通缉令 (arrest warrant) or 通缉犯 (wanted criminal). Common in news reports and crime-related contexts.

Examples

1. 警方已经对这名在逃嫌疑人发布了全国通缉令。 The police have issued a nationwide arrest warrant for this fugitive suspect.
2. 他因涉嫌重大诈骗案被国际刑警组织通缉。 He is wanted by Interpol for his alleged involvement in a major fraud case.
3. 那个通缉犯潜逃十五年后终于落网，真是天网恢恢疏而不漏。 That wanted criminal was finally captured after fifteen years on the run — justice always prevails in the end.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, news, crime

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 发布通缉令。(Issue an arrest warrant.)
• 他被通缉了。(He is wanted by the police.)

Don't Say

• 用'通缉'描述普通找人 (通缉 is only for criminal warrants — for looking for someone casually, use 找 or 寻找)

Origin & History

通 means widespread/throughout, 缉 means to arrest — to arrest throughout (a region).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal