Definition
刑事 (xíngshì) is an attributive adjective meaning 'criminal' in a legal sense — it always modifies a noun related to law or justice (e.g. 刑事法庭 'criminal court', 刑事犯罪 'criminal offense'). Unlike the nouns 罪犯 or 歹徒 (which refer to a person who commits a crime), 刑事 describes the legal category or procedure itself.
adjective
criminal (attributive)penal
Easily confused
- 形式xíng shìsound-alikeform; outer appearance (as opposed to content)
- 形势xíng shìsound-alike(noun) situation, circumstances
- 行驶xíng shǐsound-aliketo travel along a route (of vehicles)
- 姓氏xìng shìsound-alikefamily name; surname
- 行使xíng shǐsound-aliketo exercise (a right, power, authority, etc.)
Examples
- 刑事。Zhège xíng shì fǎtíng chǔlǐ le hěnduō zhòngdà ànjiàn.This criminal court has handled many major cases.
- 。Tā yīn shèxián xíng shì fànzuì bèi dàibǔ le.He was arrested on suspicion of criminal offenses.
- 刑事。xíng shì biànhù lǜshī xūyào fēicháng zhuānyè de zhīshi.A criminal defense lawyer needs very specialized knowledge.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.