Chinese word

凶手

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiōng shǒu

Meaning

  • nounmurderer

Example

他被认为是凶手，已经被逮捕。tā bèi rèn wéi shì xiōng shǒu yǐ jīng bèi dài bǔ

He is believed to be the murderer and has already been arrested.

Illustration for 凶手 (murderer)

More examples

庭审中，目击者指认的凶手出庭接受审问。tíng shěn zhōng mù jī zhě zhǐ rèn de xiōng shǒu chū tíng jiē shòu shěn wèn

During the trial, the murderer identified by the witness appeared in court to be questioned.

Core concept

The person who causes another person's death through a deliberate killing.

Common phrases

  • 目击者指认的凶手mù jī zhě zhǐ rèn de xiōng shǒu

    murderer identified by the witness

  • 被指认为凶手bèi zhǐ rèn wéi xiōng shǒu

    person identified as the murderer

Similar words

嫌疑人xián yí rén: A person suspected of committing a crime, without confirmed guilt.
杀人犯shā rén fàn: A person who has committed the crime of killing another person.
犯人fàn rén: The person who actually committed a particular crime.
罪犯zuì fàn: A person who has committed an offense against the law.

Definition in Chinese

实际造成他人死亡的人shí jì zào chéng tā rén sǐ wáng de rén

Word origin

凶 (xiōng, "violent or vicious") + 手 (shǒu, "hand or doer") forms a label for the person behind a killing.

Usage tips

  • In reports and conversation, this noun usually sounds like a conclusion of responsibility, so using it while facts remain unsettled can make a speaker sound overly certain.

Other meanings

  • culpritnoun
  • perpetratornoun

Opposites

  • 被害人bèi hài rénvictimnoun
  • 无辜者wú gū zhěinnocent personnoun

Word lists with this word