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罪魁祸首

zuì kuí huò shǒu

HSK 7–9

Meaning

  • criminal ringleader, main offender (idiom); main culprit
  • fig. main cause of a disaster

Definition

指犯罪或造成祸害的首要分子，即罪行的魁首、祸害的根源。

The chief culprit or main cause of a disaster or crime; the primary offender or root of trouble.

Usage

通常用于指责或指出导致不良后果的主要人物或因素，带贬义。

Used to accuse or identify the main person or factor causing negative consequences, with a derogatory tone.

Examples

  • 1 调查发现，这场火灾的罪魁祸首是电线老化。 (The investigation found that the culprit of the fire was aging wires.)
  • 2 环境污染的罪魁祸首往往是不规范的企业排放。 (The culprit of environmental pollution is often irregular industrial emissions.)
  • 3 他才是这次事故的罪魁祸首，必须承担责任。 (He is the real culprit of this accident and must bear responsibility.)
  • 4 贪图享乐被认为是导致他堕落的罪魁祸首。 (Indulgence in pleasure is considered the root cause of his degeneration.)
  • 5 这次经济危机的罪魁祸首是金融监管的缺失。 (The culprit of this economic crisis is the lack of financial supervision.)

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