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中文
事故 — meaning in English: ACCIDENT
shìgù · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.
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accident
天气
tiānqì
事故
shìgù
手
shǒu
一天
yītiān
范围
fànwéi
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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
