凶きょう漢かん

きょ

う

か

ん

Meanings

A somewhat literary or dramatic term for a violent criminal, ruffian, or assassin. Often used in news reports or fiction to describe a dangerous perpetrator.

凶きょう漢かんが深しん夜やの街まちを徘はい徊かいしていた。
A villain was prowling the streets late at night.
警けい察さつは凶きょう漢かんの行方ゆくえを追おっている。
The police are tracking the outlaw's whereabouts.

See all 4 example sentences ›

Kanji

凶villain, evil, bad luck
漢Sino-, China
兇wickedness

Related words

悪あく党とう
悪党 is a more general and colloquial term for a villain or scoundrel, while 凶漢 carries a stronger nuance of violent criminality and is more literary.
殺ころし屋や
殺し屋 specifically means a hitman or professional killer, whereas 凶漢 can refer to any violent criminal, including an assassin, but is not limited to hired killers.

Written forms

凶きょう漢かんUsage100%
Standard modern spelling using the simplified kanji 凶.
兇きょう漢かん
Older form using the traditional kanji 兇; still encountered in historical or literary contexts.

Etymology

Compound of 凶 (bad, evil) and 漢 (man, fellow). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period to denote a violent or wicked man.