个案 gè’àn individual case
individual case; special case
How to remember 个案: 个 general measure word + 案 file = individual case.
Characters
How it is used
- An individual/isolated case - 这只是个案，不代表整体 (zhè zhǐshì gè'àn, bú dàibiǎo zhěngtǐ) this is just an isolated case, not the norm.
- Used to argue something is exceptional, not a general pattern; common in reporting, law, and social science.
- Also 'case study': 个案分析 (gè'àn fēnxī), analysis of a specific case.
Example sentences
- 他们在讨论这个案子。 Tāmen zài tǎolùn zhège ànzi.They are discussing the case.