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触犯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
触犯chùfànto offendHSK 7, v, rank #9446, Hard
chùfàn(chu4fan4) T4
  1. 1to offend
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March 24, 2026
触犯(觸犯)chùfàn(chu4fan4)

触犯 means 'to offend' or 'to violate' something, often in a legal or moral context. It is commonly used to describe actions that go against rules, laws, or social norms, leading to disapproval or punishment.

Frequency#9446DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In China, the concept of 触犯 is closely linked to the importance of social harmony and respect for authority. Offending someone or breaking social norms can lead to significant consequences, both personally and publicly.

Memory Tip

Think of 触 (chù) as a 'touch' and 犯 (fàn) as a 'crime.' Imagine touching a forbidden object and committing a crime in the process. The character's components reflect the idea of touching (触) something that leads to an offense (犯).

Meanings of 触犯

chùfàn(chu4fan4)
1to offend
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 触犯

触犯Simplified
觸犯Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9446Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 触犯

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Podcast: 触犯

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AI Study Notes for 触犯

Quick Contrast

触犯 (chùfàn) vs 违反 (wéifǎn) — use 触犯 when emphasizing moral or social offense, while 违反 focuses on legal violations.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 触 (chù) as a 'touch' and 犯 (fàn) as a 'crime.' Imagine touching a forbidden object and committing a crime in the process. The character's components reflect the idea of touching (触) something that leads to an offense (犯).

Usage Notes

This term is often used in formal contexts, particularly in legal discussions. Common collocations include 触犯法律 (to offend the law) and 触犯道德 (to offend morality). Be cautious with the tones, as mispronouncing 触 (chù) or 犯 (fàn) may change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 触犯 connects to other legal and moral vocabulary like 违法 (wéifǎ, to violate the law) and 违规 (wéiguī, to breach regulations). Focus on using it in context with other legal terms to build a comprehensive understanding.

Cultural Note

In China, the concept of 触犯 is closely linked to the importance of social harmony and respect for authority. Offending someone or breaking social norms can lead to significant consequences, both personally and publicly.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 触犯 with other terms like 冒犯 (màofàn), which means 'to offend' but in a more personal, less formal context. For example, saying '我触犯了他' (Wǒ chùfànle tā) is incorrect if referring to a personal offense; use 冒犯 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 触犯

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Component Characters

chùto touch
13 strokes
View full entry
fànto violate
HSK 65 strokes
View full entry

Write 触犯

Practice writing 触犯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 触犯

触犯 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

____法律的事情是万万干不得的。

Things that violate the law are absolutely out of the question.

Example Sentences for 触犯 (2)

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1
陪审团裁决全国橄榄球联盟触犯了反垄断法。

péi shěn tuán cái jué quán guó gǎn lǎn qiú lián méng chù fàn le fǎn lǒng duàn fǎ。

The jury found that the NFL had violated antitrust laws.
2
如果进入那栋大楼,他们就会触犯法律。

rú guǒ jìn rù nà dòng dà lóu, , tā mén jiù huì chù fàn fǎ。

If they entered the building they would be breaking the law .

Cultural Notes for 触犯

🏮Cultural insight

In China, the concept of 触犯 is closely linked to the importance of social harmony and respect for authority. Offending someone or breaking social norms can lead to significant consequences, both personally and publicly.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the concept of 'offense' may often be viewed through the lens of individual rights, while in China, it is more about maintaining social harmony and group respect.

Frequently Asked Questions about 触犯

You can say 触犯了法律 (chùfànle fǎlǜ) to mean 'offended the law.'