zyu2 faan2主犯
Jyutpingzyu2 faan2
Yalejyú fáan
Definition
The primary culprit, principal offender, or mastermind behind a crime.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the person who plays the leading role in a crime or wrongdoing. It is a formal term often appearing in news reports or legal contexts rather than casual conversation. When discussing less serious situations, people usually prefer using terms like 搞手 or 始作俑者.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Have the police caught the culprit yet?
He is the culprit in this case.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word for minor mistakes or accidents, as it carries a strong legal and criminal connotation. It is not interchangeable with general terms for someone who causes trouble.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
