凶手 xiōngshǒu murderer
murderer; assassin
How to remember 凶手: 凶 culprit + 手 hand = murderer.
Characters
How it is used
- 'The murderer / killer / perpetrator' of a violent crime - 抓住凶手 (zhuāzhù xiōngshǒu) to catch the killer.
- Specifically the person who did the killing; contrast 罪犯 (zuìfàn, criminal in general) and 嫌疑人 (suspect). The 手 marks the doer, as in 凶手/杀手.
Example sentences
- 凶手还没有抓到。 Xiōngshǒu hái méiyǒu zhuā dào.The murderer is still at large.
- 园丁后来发现就是凶手。 Yuándīng hòulái fāxiàn jiùshì xiōngshǒu.The gardener turned out to be the murderer.