犯罪

• Reading: はんざい
• Romaji: hanzai
• Kanji breakdown: 犯 (han) — to commit, to violate; 罪 (zai) — crime, sin, guilt
• Pronunciation: /haɴ.zaɪ/

Meaning

Crime; offence. An act that violates the law and is subject to punishment.

A noun referring to any act that is punishable by law. Common collocations include 犯罪を犯す (to commit a crime), 犯罪者 (criminal), and 犯罪率 (crime rate). Japan has one of the lowest crime rates among developed nations.

Examples

1. この町は犯罪が少なくて安全だ。 This town is safe with very little crime.
2. ネット上の犯罪が増えている。 Online crime is on the rise.
3. 犯罪を防ぐために防犯カメラが設置された。 Security cameras were installed to prevent crime.

Usage Guide

Context: law, news, society

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Composed of 犯 (to commit a crime, to violate) and 罪 (crime, sin, guilt). Together they mean the act of committing an offence.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal