在押犯 (zài yā fàn) — criminal in custody, inmate (currently detained)

Definition

noun

criminal in custodyinmate (currently detained)

Measure word · 个

在押犯。
Zhè ge jiān yù de zài yā fàn yǒu sān bǎi duō rén.
There are more than 300 inmates in this prison.
在押犯。
Jǐng fāng zhèng zài duì zài yā fàn jìn xíng shěn xùn.
The police are interrogating the criminal in custody.
在押犯。
zài yā fàn De lǜ shī yāo qiú huì jiàn dāng shì rén.
The inmate's lawyer requested to meet with the client.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

在押in custody

动宾Verb + object

犯fàncriminal

在押 gives being in custody, and 犯 gives criminal, so it means a detained criminal.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌甲押

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

甲

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

押 pairs 扌, a hand, with 甲, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

𢎘

𢎘𢎘犯fàn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

犯 combines 犬 and 𢎘: 犬 gives the meaning, and 𢎘 gives the sound.