How to Write 犯 (fàn) — Meaning “to commit; to violate; to offend”

Picture a dog (犭) jumping at a person; this aggressive act is 'committing an offense' (犯). The right part 㕣 looks like a leash or a hook, which the dog pulls to attack.

Write the left radical 犭 first with three strokes: 撇, 弯钩, 撇. Then add the right side: 横折钩 (horizontal hook) and 竖 (vertical). Common mistakes include making the right hook too big or confusing the radical’s last stroke with the hook.

The right parts differ: 犰 has 九 (jiǔ), 犴 has 干 (gān), while 犯 has 㕣. These two are rare, used mainly in animal names or historical terms, whereas 犯 is common in legal words like 犯罪 and 犯人.

犯 appears in everyday words about mistakes and crimes, such as 犯错 (make a mistake) and 犯罪 (commit a crime). In Chinese culture, it carries strong negative meaning, showing a serious violation of rules or laws.

Common words containing 犯 include: 犯错 (fàn cuò) — to make a mistake; 犯人 (fàn rén) — prisoner; convict; 犯罪 (fàn zuì) — to commit a crime.