案子 (ànzi): (legal) case

Measure Word

一桩案子 zhuāng

这个案子很复杂。

Zhège ànzi hěn fùzá.

This case is very complicated.

警察正在调查这个案子。

Jǐngchá zhèngzài diàochá zhège ànzi.

The police are investigating this case.

usage

案子 is the colloquial word for a legal case or crime incident. The more formal equivalent is 案件 (ànjiàn).

memory

案 (case/desk) + 子 (noun suffix) — picture a detective's desk piled with case files.

案 àn

子 zǐ