罪犯

• Pinyin: zuì fàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 罪 = 网 + 非 (net + wrong — criminal guilt); 犯 = 犬 + 卩 (dog radical + kneeling figure — to offend)

Meaning

Criminal; offender. A person who has committed a crime, especially one who has been convicted.

A standard legal and social term for a person found guilty of a criminal offence. Used in journalism, legal proceedings, and social discourse. Carries a strong negative connotation and should be distinguished from 嫌疑人 (suspect) who has not yet been convicted.

Examples

1. 这名连环盗窃案的罪犯在潜逃三年后被警方成功抓获，随即被移送司法机关依法处理。 This criminal in a serial theft case was successfully arrested by police after three years on the run and was then transferred to the judicial authorities for handling according to law.
2. 法院在量刑时综合考虑了罪犯的犯罪动机、前科记录及认罪态度，最终作出了相应判决。 When sentencing, the court considered the offender's criminal motive, prior record, and attitude toward admitting guilt, and ultimately issued the corresponding judgment.
3. 心理学家对服刑罪犯进行了长达两年的跟踪研究，旨在探讨犯罪行为背后的深层心理机制。 Psychologists conducted a two-year follow-up study of convicted criminals in order to explore the deeper psychological mechanisms behind criminal behavior.

Usage Guide

Context: law, journalism, social policy, criminology

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 未经法院依法定罪之前，任何人不得被称为罪犯，这是无罪推定原则的基本要求。(Before a court has convicted someone according to law, no one may be called a criminal — this is a fundamental requirement of the presumption of innocence.)
• 该罪犯被判处十五年有期徒刑，并须在服刑期满后接受三年社区监督管理。(The criminal was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment and must be subject to three years of community supervision upon release.)

Don't Say

• 他是个罪犯，虽然还没判决 — do not call someone 罪犯 before conviction; use 嫌疑人 (suspect) or 被告 (defendant) instead

Origin & History

罪 (crime/sin) + 犯 (offender/to violate)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal