Korean Dictionary
How to say "Criminal" in Korean
“Criminal” in Korean is 범인 (pronounced "Beom-in").
범인
Beom-in
Usage & Context
A person who has committed a crime. Criminals in South Korea are prosecuted and punished according to the criminal code.
Example Sentence
경찰은 범인을 체포했습니다.
Police arrested the criminal.
How to use 범인 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Criminal” is 범인, romanized as Beom-in.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 범인.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'beom-in'. Two syllables: 'beom' (like 'bum'), 'in' (like 'een'). The ㅁ links smoothly into the next vowel.
More Example Sentences
news report
범인을 체포했어요.
They arrested the criminal.
active case
범인이 도주 중이에요.
The criminal is on the run.
watching a mystery drama
범인을 추리해 보세요.
Try to guess the culprit.
Cultural Context
범인 specifically means 'the perpetrator' — whether the case is solved or not. In mystery dramas and movies, the big reveal question '범인은 누구?' (Who's the culprit?) is a genre staple. For 'criminal record', use 전과. A career criminal is 상습범. When caught, 범인 becomes 용의자 (suspect), then 피고인 (defendant) in court.
Editorial note
We review entries like 범인 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
범인 잡았어요?
Did they catch the criminal?
범인이 누구예요?
Who is the culprit?
범인은 바로 이 사람이에요.
The culprit is this person.
Related Expressions
용의자
yonguija
suspect
범죄자
beomjoeja
criminal (general)
전과
jeongwa
criminal record
피고인
pigoin
defendant
More Law & Government Words
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