罪魁祸首 zuìkuí-huòshǒu criminal ringleader
(idiom) criminal ringleader; main offender; main culprit; main cause of a disaster
How to remember 罪魁祸首: 罪 sin + 魁 chief + 祸 misfortune + 首 head = criminal ringleader.
Characters
How it is used
- 'The chief culprit / prime cause' behind trouble - 他是这场灾难的罪魁祸首 (tā shì zhè chǎng zāinàn de zuìkuí-huòshǒu) he's the ringleader behind this disaster.
- Idiom pinning ultimate blame, for people or causes: 吸烟是肺癌的罪魁祸首 (xīyān shì fèi'ái de zuìkuí-huòshǒu) smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.
- Strong, accusatory register.
Example sentences
- 听起来好像他是这场灾难的罪魁祸首。 Tīng qǐlái hǎoxiàng tā shì zhèchǎng zāinàn de zuìkuíhuòshǒu.It sounds as if he were to blame for the disaster.