罪魁祸首

No base JSON record found for this token.

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"罪魁祸首" refers to the chief culprit or the main cause behind a negative event, such as a crime, accident, or problem. It is often used to point out the primary responsible party or factor.

Common Contexts

This term is frequently used in news reports, discussions about accidents, environmental issues, or any situation where identifying the main cause or culprit is important.

Collocations and Patterns

Nuance and Register

The phrase carries a strong accusatory tone and is formal. It is not used lightly and implies clear responsibility.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse 罪魁祸首 with general words for 'problem' or 'cause'; it specifically highlights the primary culprit or cause, often in a negative context.

Example Sentences

The main culprit of this accident is the driver's negligence.

The main cause of environmental pollution is often industrial wastewater

In the team's failure, he was considered the main culprit.