Meaning and Usage
"刑事" primarily refers to a police detective or matters related to criminal cases. It is commonly used in contexts involving crime investigation, police work, and legal matters.
Common Contexts
You will often see "刑事" in police dramas, news reports about crime, and discussions about criminal investigations. It can refer both to the detective (person) and to criminal cases themselves.
Collocations and Patterns
- 刑事事件 (けいじじけん): criminal case; used when talking about specific crimes under investigation.
- 刑事ドラマ (けいじドラマ): detective drama; a popular genre on TV.
- 刑事として (けいじとして): as a detective; used to describe someone's role or profession.
Register and Nuance
"刑事" is a formal term used in official and media contexts. It is not casual slang but standard vocabulary for police and legal topics.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "刑事" with "犯罪" (はんざい), which means "crime" in general. Remember, "刑事" relates more to the detective or the criminal case, not the crime itself as an abstract concept.