主犯(しゅはん)

しゅはん
noun
principal offender; mastermind
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
general
Added 2026.3.19 20:55
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