violent robber; villain
Formal or literary term for a brutal outlaw or bandit; often used in historical or dramatic contexts.
The violent robber attacked the village and stole money and goods.
In period dramas, there are often scenes where villains ambush travelers.
Standard modern spelling.
Older variant using 兇; less common in modern writing.
Compound of 凶 (evil, bad) and 賊 (bandit, thief). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with a violent criminal.