主 犯(しゅはん)

しゅはん

noun

principal offender; mastermind

legalperson

1. principal offender; mastermind; ringleader

The main perpetrator of a crime who planned or led the criminal act. Distinguished from accomplices and accessories.

主犯(しゅはん)が逮捕(たいほ)された。

The principal offender was arrested.

警察(けいさつ)は主犯(しゅはん)格(かく)の男(おとこ)を指名(しめい)手配(てはい)した。

The police issued a wanted notice for the man believed to be the ringleader.

詐欺(さぎ)事件(じけん)の主犯(しゅはん)は海外(かいがい)に逃亡(とうぼう)したが、共犯者(きょうはんしゃ)三(さん)名(めい)はすでに逮捕(たいほ)されている。

The mastermind of the fraud case fled abroad, but three accomplices have already been arrested.

Usage

A legal and news term. 主犯(しゅはん)格(かく) is a common variant meaning "believed to be the principal offender" or "ringleader-level figure," used when the exact role hasn't been legally established.

Common collocations

主犯(しゅはん)格(かく) (ringleader; principal offender level)
主犯(しゅはん)を逮捕(たいほ)する (to arrest the principal offender)
主犯(しゅはん)と共犯(きょうはん) (the principal and the accomplice)

Similar words

共犯(きょうはん): accomplice — a secondary participant in the crime
犯人(はんにん): criminal, perpetrator — the general word for someone who committed a crime
首謀者(しゅぼうしゃ): mastermind — emphasizes the planning role

Related Words

Compare: 共犯(きょうはん) (accomplice)

Related: 犯人(はんにん) (criminal (general))

Synonym: 首謀者(しゅぼうしゃ) (mastermind (planning focus))

Compare: 首謀(しゅぼう) (masterminding)

Compare: 正犯(せいはん) (principal (offender))

Compare: 共謀(きょうぼう)者(しゃ) (co-conspirator)

general

Added 2026.3.19 20:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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