kānshǒusuǒ: 看守所 - Detention Center, Pre-trial Detention Center

• Keywords: kānshǒusuǒ, 看守所, Chinese detention center, pre-trial detention China, Chinese jail, remand centre, what is a kanshousuo, difference between Chinese prison and detention center, Chinese legal system, 关押, 嫌疑人.
• Summary: The Chinese term 看守所 (kānshǒusuǒ) refers to a detention center or pre-trial detention center in China. It is a critical component of the Chinese legal system, serving as the facility where criminal suspects are held after arrest but before they have been formally tried and sentenced. Unlike a prison (监狱, jiānyù), which houses convicted criminals, a `看守所` is a temporary holding facility for individuals undergoing investigation and awaiting trial. Understanding this term is key to grasping the procedural aspects of Chinese law.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kānshǒusuǒ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Specialized Term)
• Concise Definition: A facility in China where criminal suspects are held in custody before their trial and formal sentencing.
• In a Nutshell: Think of a `看守所` as the “waiting room” of the Chinese criminal justice system. It's not for people who have been found guilty and are serving a long sentence—that's a prison (`监狱`). Instead, a `看守所` is where someone who has been arrested for a suspected crime is held while the police investigate, build their case, and prepare for a trial. The stay can last from weeks to months, or even longer, and it is a crucial period in the legal process.

• 看 (kān): While this character usually means “to look” or “to see” (pronounced `kàn`), here it is pronounced in the first tone, `kān`, and means “to watch over” or “to guard”. This is a critical pronunciation and meaning shift.
• 守 (shǒu): This character means “to guard,” “to defend,” or “to keep watch.” It reinforces the idea of security and custody.
• 所 (suǒ): This character means “place,” “location,” or “institute.” It's a common suffix for buildings or organizations (e.g., 厕所 cèsuǒ - toilet; 研究所 yánjiūsuǒ - research institute).

When combined, `看守 (kānshǒu)` means “to guard” or “to watch over.” Adding `所 (suǒ)` turns it into a noun: “the place for guarding,” which perfectly describes a detention center.

The `看守所` plays a central role in the Chinese legal system, a role that differs significantly from its Western counterparts like a “county jail” or “remand centre.” While both serve as pre-trial holding facilities, the experience and legal implications in a Chinese `看守所` are unique. In many Western legal systems, the period in pre-trial detention is primarily for ensuring the suspect appears in court. In China, the time spent in the `看守所` is an integral part of the investigative phase. It is during this period that interrogations occur, evidence is gathered, and confessions are often sought. Access to legal counsel can be more restricted than in the West, making this a period of significant psychological pressure for the suspect. This system reflects a societal value that prioritizes social stability and the authority of the state in investigating crime. The concept of “innocent until proven guilty” exists in Chinese law, but in practice, the system is structured to facilitate a thorough investigation with the suspect in custody, which is seen as necessary for uncovering the truth and maintaining order. Therefore, being sent to a `看守所` is a very serious step, far more so than being temporarily held at a police station.

The term `看守所` is used almost exclusively in formal, legal, or official contexts. You will encounter it in:

• News Reports: When reporting on criminal arrests.
• Legal Dramas: Characters will frequently discuss suspects being “sent to the `看守所`.”
• Official Documents: Police reports, court documents, and legal correspondence.

It is not a word used in casual, everyday conversation unless someone is specifically discussing a criminal case. The connotation is inherently serious and negative, as it is associated with the loss of freedom and the stress of a criminal investigation.

• Example 1:
  • 他因涉嫌盗窃被关进了看守所。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīn shèxián dàoqiè bèi guān jìnle kānshǒusuǒ.
  • English: He was locked up in the detention center on suspicion of theft.
  • Analysis: A very common and direct sentence structure. `因 (yīn)` means “because of,” `涉嫌 (shèxián)` means “to be suspected of,” and `被 (bèi)` indicates the passive voice.
• Example 2:
  • 律师下周将前往看守所会见他的当事人。
  • Pinyin: Lǜshī xiàzhōu jiāng qiánwǎng kānshǒusuǒ huìjiàn tā de dāngshìrén.
  • English: The lawyer will go to the detention center next week to meet with his client.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the interaction between a lawyer and a suspect held in a `看守所`. `当事人 (dāngshìrén)` is the formal term for “client” in a legal case.
• Example 3:
  • 案件还在调查中，所以他目前仍被羁押在看守所。
  • Pinyin: Ànjiàn hái zài diàochá zhōng, suǒyǐ tā mùqián réng bèi jīyā zài kānshǒusuǒ.
  • English: The case is still under investigation, so he is currently still being held in the detention center.
  • Analysis: `羁押 (jīyā)` is a formal verb meaning “to hold in custody,” often used in conjunction with `看守所`.
• Example 4:
  • 你要分清楚，看守所和监狱是两个不同的地方。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yào fēn qīngchu, kānshǒusuǒ hé jiānyù shì liǎng gè bùtóng de dìfang.
  • English: You need to be clear that a detention center and a prison are two different places.
  • Analysis: This sentence is great for learners as it explicitly highlights the key distinction between a `看守所` and a `监狱 (jiānyù)`.
• Example 5:
  • 在被送往看守所之前，他在警察局待了24小时。
  • Pinyin: Zài bèi sòng wǎng kānshǒusuǒ zhīqián, tā zài jǐngchájú dāile èrshísì xiǎoshí.
  • English: Before being sent to the detention center, he stayed at the police station for 24 hours.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the typical sequence of events after an arrest in China.
• Example 6:
  • 看守所的管理非常严格，家属探视需要提前申请。
  • Pinyin: Kānshǒusuǒ de guǎnlǐ fēicháng yángé, jiāshǔ tànshì xūyào tíqián shēnqǐng.
  • English: The management of the detention center is very strict; family visits require an application in advance.
  • Analysis: This gives insight into the conditions and rules of a `看守所`. `探视 (tànshì)` means “to visit” (an inmate or patient).
• Example 7:
  • 经过审判，他被判了五年，然后从看守所转移到了监狱。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò shěnpàn, tā bèi pànle wǔ nián, ránhòu cóng kānshǒusuǒ zhuǎnyí dàole jiānyù.
  • English: After the trial, he was sentenced to five years and was then transferred from the detention center to the prison.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly shows the functional difference and transition between the two facilities.
• Example 8:
  • 所有刑事案件的嫌疑人，在判决下来之前，都会被关在看守所。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu xíngshì ànjiàn de xiányírén, zài pànjué xiàlái zhīqián, dōu huì bèi guān zài kānshǒusuǒ.
  • English: All suspects in criminal cases are held in the detention center before a verdict is reached.
  • Analysis: This sentence defines the exact purpose and population of a `看守所`. `嫌疑人 (xiányírén)` is “suspect” and `判决 (pànjué)` is “verdict” or “judgment.”
• Example 9:
  • 他已经在看守所里待了快半年了，案子还没开庭。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǐjīng zài kānshǒusuǒ lǐ dāile kuài bàn nián le, ànzi hái méi kāitíng.
  • English: He has already been in the detention center for almost half a year, and his case hasn't gone to trial yet.
  • Analysis: This highlights the potentially long duration of pre-trial detention. `开庭 (kāitíng)` means “to begin a court session.”
• Example 10:
  • 根据法律规定，看守所的主要任务是保障诉讼活动的顺利进行。
  • Pinyin: Gēnjù fǎlǜ guīdìng, kānshǒusuǒ de zhǔyào rènwù shì bǎozhàng sùsòng huódòng de shùnlì jìnxíng.
  • English: According to legal regulations, the main task of a detention center is to ensure the smooth progress of litigation activities.
  • Analysis: A formal, official-sounding sentence that explains the legal justification for the existence of `看守所`.

• Pronunciation Pitfall: `kān` vs. `kàn`
  • This is the most common mistake for learners. `看 (kàn)` with a fourth tone means “to see, to look, to read.” `看 (kān)` with a first tone means “to guard, to watch over.” In `看守所`, it is always `kān`. Saying `kànshǒusuǒ` is incorrect and would sound like “look at the guard place.”
• False Friends: `看守所` vs. `监狱 (jiānyù)`
  • This is the most critical conceptual distinction. Do not use `看守所` to mean “prison.”
  • `看守所 (kānshǒusuǒ)`: Pre-trial detention. For suspects before a guilty verdict.
  • `监狱 (jiānyù)`: Prison. For convicted criminals after sentencing to serve their time.
  • Incorrect: 他被判了三年看守所。 (Tā bèi pànle sān nián kānshǒusuǒ.) → “He was sentenced to three years in the detention center.”
  • Correct: 他被判了三年有期徒刑，在监狱里服刑。 (Tā bèi pànle sān nián yǒuqī túxíng, zài jiānyù lǐ fúxíng.) → “He was sentenced to three years imprisonment and is serving his sentence in prison.”
• Finer Distinction: `看守所` vs. `拘留所 (jūliúsuǒ)`
  • This is a more advanced distinction. Both are forms of detention, but for different reasons.
  • `看守所 (kānshǒusuǒ)`: For criminal detention (刑事拘留, xíngshì jūliú). Involves serious crimes, investigation for a trial, and can lead to a criminal record.
  • `拘留所 (jūliúsuǒ)`: For administrative detention (行政拘留, xíngzhèng jūliú). Involves minor public order offenses (e.g., fighting, petty theft). Detention is short (usually under 15 days) and does not result in a criminal record.

• 监狱 (jiānyù) - Prison. The facility where convicted criminals serve their sentences. Antonym in function to `看守所`.
• 拘留所 (jūliúsuǒ) - Administrative Detention House. A facility for short-term detention for minor offenses, distinct from the criminal process.
• 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - (Criminal) Suspect. The official term for a person held in a `看守所`.
• 逮捕 (dàibǔ) - To Arrest. The formal act of taking a suspect into custody, which leads to being placed in a `看守所`.
• 审判 (shěnpàn) - (To hold a) Trial. The legal proceeding that a suspect in a `看守所` is awaiting.
• 警察局 (jǐngchájú) - Police Station. The place one is typically taken immediately after an arrest, before being transferred to a `看守所`.
• 律师 (lǜshī) - Lawyer. A legal professional who may be hired to visit and represent a suspect in a `看守所`.
• 判刑 (pànxíng) - To Sentence (a criminal). The action taken by a judge after a guilty verdict, which determines the length of stay in a `监狱`.
• 羁押 (jīyā) - To hold in custody. A formal verb describing the state of being held in a `看守所`.