zi1 faat3 faan6 faat3知法犯法
Jyutpingzi1 faat3 faan6 faat3
Yalejī faat faahn faat
Definition
To deliberately and knowingly break the law.
neutralother
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of moral condemnation, specifically highlighting the hypocrisy of someone who understands the legal system yet chooses to violate it. It is frequently used in news reports or formal discussions about corruption or professional misconduct to emphasize that the offender should have known better.
Examples
As a police officer, he actually broke the law deliberately.
How can you face yourself when you break the law knowing it is wrong?
Related words
Common phrases
an act of breaking the law deliberately
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe accidental crimes or simple mistakes. It strictly implies a conscious, premeditated decision to ignore the law, which is why it is often applied to people in positions of authority or legal expertise.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
