(きょうこう)

きょうこう
noun
violent act; atrocity; murder
1. violent act; atrocity; murderous act
A violent criminal act, especially murder or a vicious attack. Used in news reports and formal contexts to describe serious violent crimes.
凶行(きょうこう)(およ)んだ動機(どうき)不明(ふめい)だ。
The motive for the violent act is unknown.
容疑者(ようぎしゃ)白昼(はくちゅう)凶行(きょうこう)逮捕(たいほ)された。
The suspect was arrested for the violent act committed in broad daylight.
二度(にど)とこのような凶行(きょうこう)()(かえ)されないよう、対策(たいさく)必要(ひつよう)だ。
Measures are needed to ensure that such a violent act is never repeated.

USAGE:
Primarily a news and legal term. Describes serious violent crimes, especially murder. Formal and dramatic in tone.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 凶行(きょうこう)(およ)ぶ (to commit a violent act)
  • 凶行(きょうこう)動機(どうき) (motive for the crime)
  • 凶行(きょうこう)現場(げんば) (crime scene)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 犯行(はんこう): criminal act — more neutral, covers all types of crime
  • 殺人(さつじん): murder — specifically killing, while 凶行(きょうこう) can include non-fatal violence
  • 強行(きょうこう): forced action — identical pronunciation but means to push through forcefully, not violent crime