破案

pò’àn

to solve a case

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"破案" literally means "to break a case" and is commonly used to describe the act of solving a criminal case or mystery. It is often used in police or detective contexts.

Common Contexts

You will frequently see "破案" in news reports about crime, detective stories, and police dramas. It implies successfully identifying the culprit or resolving the case.

Collocations

  • 破案成功 (solve the case successfully): emphasizes the positive outcome.
  • 破案过程 (process of solving the case): refers to the investigative steps.
  • 破案线索 (clues to solve the case): important hints or evidence.

Usage Notes

"破案" is a verb phrase and usually appears as the main verb in a sentence. It is not used for general problem-solving but specifically for criminal or investigative cases. Avoid confusing it with "解决问题" which means solving general problems.

Summary

Use "破案" when talking about solving crimes or mysteries, especially in formal or narrative contexts related to law enforcement or detective work.

Example Sentences

警察终于破案了,抓住了那个逃犯。

Jǐngchá zhōngyú pò’àn le, zhuā zhù le nàgè táofàn.

The police finally solved the case and caught the fugitive.

这部电视剧讲述了一个侦探破案的故事。

Zhè bù diànshìjù jiǎngshù le yí gè zhēntàn pò’àn de gùshì.

This TV drama tells a story about a detective solving a case.

他凭借细致的观察能力成功破案。

Tā píngjiè xìzhì de guānchá nénglì chénggōng pò’àn.

He successfully solved the case thanks to his meticulous observation skills.