gwaan3 faan6慣犯惯犯
Jyutpinggwaan3 faan6
Yalegwaan faahn
Definition
Habitual offender; a criminal who repeatedly commits crimes.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
While primarily used in legal or criminal contexts, this term is frequently applied metaphorically to describe someone who repeatedly engages in annoying or negative habits. It carries a sense of frustration or resignation, suggesting that the person is unlikely to change their behavior despite past warnings. When used outside of crime, it often implies a lack of discipline or a stubborn refusal to follow rules.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is a well-known habitual offender at the police station.
Related words
Common phrases
habitual shoplifter
habitual domestic abuser
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 慣性, which refers to a habit or inertia. 慣犯 specifically requires the person to be a repeat offender or someone who consistently breaks a social or legal norm.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
