案件

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 警方正在调查这起案件。▶ —
   The police are investigating this case.
2. 法院审理了一起重大案件。▶ —
   The court tried a major case.

Collocations

Mnemonic

案 àn "case/file" + 件 jiàn "item": a Sino-Korean word "case (legal)". A matter handled in law or investigation. Unlike the general 事件 (an incident), 案件 is specific to judicial or investigative cases. 刑事案件 (a criminal case), 审理案件. Its measure word is 起 (一起案件). Colloquially similar to 案子.

Related

Quick check

1. How do 案件 and 事件 differ?

   • 案件 = a legal/investigative case; 事件 = a general incident
   • identical
   • 案件 = tax; 事件 = prison
   • both evidence