(fàn rén) - prisoner, convict, inmate in Mandarin
fànrénTraditional: 犯人
Translation
prisoner, convict, inmate
Word origin
A compound of 犯 (fàn, to offend, to commit a crime) and 人 (rén, person), so literally a person who has offended.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 犯 (fàn, to offend) + 人 (rén, person)
Stroke order
犯
人
Examples
。
The prisoner is locked up in prison.
。
That prisoner escaped yesterday.
。
The police caught the convict.
。
The prisoner's family came to visit him.
。
This inmate has been locked up for ten years.
犯人 is someone already convicted and held: a prisoner or an inmate. It belongs in courtrooms, prisons and news reports rather than casual chat.
English speakers reach for 犯人 too early. Before a verdict, a suspect is 嫌疑人 or 嫌犯; a criminal in the general sense is 罪犯. 犯人 implies custody, so calling a person on the street 犯人 sounds like an accusation you cannot back up.
The word takes ordinary measure words: 一个犯人, 两个犯人. Note also that 犯 on its own is a verb, 犯错 (to make a mistake) and 犯法 (to break the law), which is a useful hook for remembering the compound.
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犯人: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "犯人" (prisoner, convict, inmate): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 42.