ผู้ร้าย

Explanation

ผู้ is an element referring to a person, and ร้าย means bad, wicked, or fierce. Together, they convey the idea of someone who does wrong. This is a standard word, not slang. It often appears in accounts of theft or robbery, but is not limited to those crimes. Use คน to count people: ผู้ร้ายสองคน means “two criminals.” The word ผู้ร้าย itself does not mark singular or plural.

Usage

Common contexts include catching, chasing, or describing the escape of a criminal. จับผู้ร้าย means “catch a criminal.” The word also comes up when discussing villains and the actors who play them in films or television shows.

Caution

Use ผู้ต้องสงสัย for “suspect.” Calling someone ผู้ร้าย presents them as a criminal or wrongdoer rather than merely someone under suspicion. It is also too strong for someone who is simply unfriendly or whom you dislike.

1 criminal synonyms

• คนร้าย

  คนร้าย commonly refers to a perpetrator or attacker, including in news reports. It overlaps closely with ผู้ร้าย in crime contexts, while ผู้ร้าย also readily describes a villain in a story.

• อาชญากร

  อาชญากร is a more formal term for a criminal, often used when discussing crime as a social or legal issue. ผู้ร้าย is common in everyday accounts of crimes as well.

• โจร

  coon thief

  โจร means a thief, robber, or bandit. ผู้ร้าย is broader and does not specify the type of crime.

2 villain synonyms

• ตัวร้าย

  ตัวร้าย is a common term for a villainous character or role in fiction. ผู้ร้าย can describe the same character, but also refers to real criminals and wrongdoers.