bào'àn: 报案 - To Report a Case (to the Police), To File a Police Report

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 报案 (bào'àn), which means “to file a police report” or “to report a case.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical use, distinguishing it from the simple act of calling the police (报警, bàojǐng). Discover how to use 报案 correctly in situations like theft, scams, or other incidents requiring an official record in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bào'àn
• Part of Speech: Verb-object compound
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To formally report a case or incident to the authorities, especially the police.
• In a Nutshell: 报案 (bào'àn) is not just a quick call to 110 (the police emergency number in China). It's the official, formal process of going to a police station, giving a detailed statement, and having a crime or incident officially recorded. It signifies the start of a formal investigation and creates an official paper trail. Think of it as “filing a formal report.”

• 报 (bào): This character means “to report,” “to announce,” or “to inform.” The left side, a hand radical (扌), suggests an action. The right side provides the sound. Together, it conveys the action of delivering information or a report.
• 案 (àn): This character means a “case,” “record,” or “legal file.” The radical for wood (木) is at the bottom, historically alluding to documents written on wooden slips or a desk where official cases were handled.
• When combined, 报案 (bào'àn) literally translates to “report a case,” perfectly capturing its meaning.

In China, deciding to 报案 (bào'àn) is often a more significant decision than it might be in some Western cultures. There can be a cultural reluctance to involve authorities to avoid `麻烦 (máfan)`—trouble, hassle, or inconvenience—for oneself and others. The act of formally reporting a case signals that an incident is serious enough to warrant official intervention and can't be resolved privately or ignored. A crucial cultural and linguistic distinction is between 报案 (bào'àn) and 报警 (bàojǐng).

• 报警 (bàojǐng) - “To call the police” or “sound an alarm.” This is the immediate action you take in an emergency. You see a fire, you `报警`. You witness a car accident, you `报警`. It's an urgent alert.
• 报案 (bào'àn) - “To file a report.” This is the follow-up, a formal procedure. After your wallet is stolen, you go to the local `派出所 (pàichūsuǒ)` (police station) to `报案`. This creates the official record needed for an investigation or an insurance claim.

In essence, you might `报警` on the phone first, and then the police might ask you to come to the station to `报案` and provide a detailed statement.

报案 (bào'àn) is a formal term used in specific situations. It's not for trivial complaints.

• Common Scenarios: You would 报案 for things like:
  • Theft (e.g., a stolen phone, wallet, or bicycle).
  • Scams (e.g., online fraud, phone scams).
  • Assault or physical altercations.
  • Finding a lost item of significant value.
  • Reporting a missing person.
• Process: The act of 报案 typically involves going to the nearest police station (`派出所`), speaking with an officer, providing your ID, and giving a detailed account of what happened. The officer will then create a written record, or `笔录 (bǐlù)`, which you will review and sign.
• Formality: The term is neutral but formal. It's used in news reports, official discussions, and serious personal conversations about crimes or incidents. You wouldn't use it jokingly.

• Example 1:
  • 我的钱包被偷了，我得去警察局报案。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de qiánbāo bèi tōu le, wǒ děi qù jǐngchájú bào'àn.
  • English: My wallet was stolen, I have to go to the police station to report it.
  • Analysis: A very common and straightforward use of the term. This is the classic scenario for needing to `报案`.
• Example 2:
  • 他目睹了整个事故的经过，然后去派出所报案了。
  • Pinyin: Tā mùdǔ le zhěnggè shìgù de jīngguò, ránhòu qù pàichūsuǒ bào'àn le.
  • English: He witnessed the entire accident and then went to the police station to file a report.
  • Analysis: This shows that not just victims, but also witnesses can `报案`. `派出所 (pàichūsuǒ)` is the specific term for a local police station.
• Example 3:
  • 警方接到报案后，立刻展开了调查。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng jiēdào bào'àn hòu, lìkè zhǎnkāi le diàochá.
  • English: After receiving the report, the police immediately launched an investigation.
  • Analysis: This is common phrasing in news reports. Here, `报案` is used as a noun, meaning “a case report.”
• Example 4:
  • 你被骗了这么多钱，怎么还不去报案？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bèi piàn le zhème duō qián, zěnme hái bú qù bào'àn?
  • English: You were scammed out of so much money, why haven't you reported it to the police yet?
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses urgency and a bit of incredulity, highlighting the perceived necessity of `报案` after a serious financial crime.
• Example 5:
  • 很多受害者联合起来，决定一起去报案。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō shòuhàizhě liánhé qǐlái, juédìng yìqǐ qù bào'àn.
  • English: Many victims united and decided to go report the case together.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates collective action, which is common in cases like investment fraud or scams affecting multiple people.
• Example 6:
  • 丢了手机虽然很麻烦，但报案之后，如果有人捡到送到警察局，你还有机会拿回来。
  • Pinyin: Diū le shǒujī suīrán hěn máfan, dàn bào'àn zhīhòu, rúguǒ yǒurén jiǎndào sòngdào jǐngchájú, nǐ hái yǒu jīhuì ná huílái.
  • English: Although losing a phone is a hassle, after you file a police report, if someone finds it and turns it into the police, you still have a chance to get it back.
  • Analysis: This explains a practical reason for `报案` even if the crime seems minor. It creates an official record.
• Example 7:
  • 孩子失踪超过24小时了，他的父母心急如焚地去报案。
  • Pinyin: Háizi shīzōng chāoguò èrshísì xiǎoshí le, tā de fùmǔ xīnjírúfén de qù bào'àn.
  • English: The child has been missing for over 24 hours, and his parents anxiously went to report it.
  • Analysis: Shows the emotional weight and seriousness associated with the act of `报案`. `心急如焚 (xīnjírúfén)` is a chengyu meaning “burning with anxiety.”
• Example 8:
  • 公司的数据被黑客窃取，管理层决定向警方报案。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de shùjù bèi hēikè qièqǔ, guǎnlǐcéng juédìng xiàng jǐngfāng bào'àn.
  • English: The company's data was stolen by hackers, and the management decided to report it to the police.
  • Analysis: `向 (xiàng)… 报案` is a common structure, meaning “to report… to.” This shows its use in a corporate/business context.
• Example 9:
  • 如果没有足够的证据，去报案可能也不会被立案。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu zúgòu de zhèngjù, qù bào'àn kěnéng yě bú huì bèi lì'àn.
  • English: If you don't have enough evidence, your case might not be officially opened even if you report it.
  • Analysis: This introduces the follow-up concept of `立案 (lì'àn)`, which is the police officially accepting and opening a case file. `报案` is the first step, but not a guarantee of a full investigation.
• Example 10:
  • 导游提醒我们，如果护照丢了，第一件事就是去大使馆和当地警察局报案。
  • Pinyin: Dǎoyóu tíxǐng wǒmen, rúguǒ hùzhào diū le, dì-yī jiàn shì jiùshì qù dàshǐguǎn hé dāngdì jǐngchájú bào'àn.
  • English: The tour guide reminded us that if we lose our passports, the first thing to do is to report it to the embassy and the local police station.
  • Analysis: A practical travel tip that demonstrates the necessity of `报案` for official documentation purposes, like getting a replacement passport.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 报案 (bào'àn) with 报警 (bàojǐng).

• 报警 (bàojǐng) - To Alert the Police / Sound an Alarm
  • Use: For emergencies happening right now. It's the action of calling for help.
  • Example: “快报警！那里着火了！” (Kuài bàojǐng! Nàlǐ zháohuǒ le! - Quick, call the police! There's a fire over there!)
  • Incorrect Usage: You wouldn't say “我昨天钱包被偷了，所以我现在要报警。” (My wallet was stolen yesterday, so now I want to `bàojǐng`.) While not entirely wrong, the more precise term for the formal reporting process is `bào'àn`.
• 报案 (bào'àn) - To File a Formal Report
  • Use: For formally documenting a crime that has already occurred, creating an official record. It's a procedure, not just an alert.
  • Example: “我昨天钱包被偷了，今天上午去警察局报案了。” (Wǒ zuótiān qiánbāo bèi tōu le, jīntiān shàngwǔ qù jǐngchájú bào'àn le. - My wallet was stolen yesterday, I went to the police station this morning to file a report.)

In short: See a crime in progress? 报警 (bàojǐng). Realize your bike was stolen last night? Go to the station to 报案 (bào'àn).

• 报警 (bàojǐng) - To call the police; the immediate act of alerting authorities in an emergency. The key contrast to `报案`.
• 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ) - The local police station; the physical place where you go to `报案`.
• 警察 (jǐngchá) - Police officer; the person you `报案` to.
• 案件 (ànjiàn) - A (legal) case. A more formal and general noun for the “case” that is being reported.
• 立案 (lì'àn) - To register or officially open a case. This is what the police do after you `报案` if they determine there is enough cause to investigate.
• 做笔录 (zuò bǐlù) - To give a formal statement; to have one's testimony recorded. This is a core part of the `报案` process.
• 受害者 (shòuhàizhě) - Victim; typically the person who files the report.
• 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - A suspect in a criminal case that has been reported.
• 证据 (zhèngjù) - Evidence; what you should provide, if possible, when you `报案`.
• 麻烦 (máfan) - Trouble, hassle; a key cultural concept explaining why someone might hesitate to `报案`.