主犯 (zhǔ fàn) — principal offender, prime culprit
Definition
Legal term for the 'principal offender' — the person who plays the main role in a crime, contrasted with 从犯 ('accessory', a lesser participant). Penalties are heavier for the 主犯.
noun
principal offenderprime culprit
Measure word · 个
Examples
- 主犯。Fǎ yuàn rèn dìng tā shì zhè qǐ qiǎng jié àn de zhǔ fàn.The court determined he was the prime culprit in this robbery case.
- 主犯。Jǐng fāng yǐ jīng dài bǔ le sān míng zhǔ fàn.The police have arrested three principal offenders.
- 主犯。zhǔ fàn Hé cóng fàn de xíng fá bù tóng.The penalties for the principal offender and accessories differ.
Appears in
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