I'm learning
中文
事故 — meaning in English: ACCIDENT
shìgù · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.
Guess the translation for
accident
事故
shìgù
英亩
yīngmǔ
权威
quánwēi
互动
hùdòng
抵押贷款
dǐyā dàikuǎn
Skip this question
🎓
Learn Mandarin Chinese for free
Quizzes, examples, audio & daily challenges. No password needed — just your email.
Start learning →
neutral
common
Usage
Native speakers commonly use 事故 (shìgù) when discussing incidents that involve vehicles or accidents in everyday life, such as traffic collisions or workplace mishaps. For instance, in a conversation about road safety after hearing about a car crash on the news, someone might say, '昨天发生了一起严重的事故' (yesterday there was a serious accident).
Synonyms & nuances
A close synonym for 事故 (shìgù) is 意外 (yìwài), which translates to 'unexpected' or 'accidental'. While 事故 specifically refers to accidents, 意外 can also refer to surprising events that might not necessarily be negative. You would use 事故 when referring to specific incidents like car crashes, while 意外 can describe a broader range of unexpected occurrences.
Culture
The word 事故 (shìgù) has its roots in classical Chinese, where '事' (shì) implies 'matter' or 'event' and '故' (gù) means 'cause' or 'reason'. This combination evokes the idea of an event caused by unforeseen circumstances. Interestingly, in Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on safety, making the discussion of accidents a frequent topic, especially in public transport and work environments.
FAQ
