事故 shìgù accident
How to remember 事故: 事 matter + 故 former = accident.
Characters
How it is used
- An accident or mishap, typically implying something went wrong through negligence, malfunction, or bad luck: 交通事故 (traffic accident), 出事故 (have an accident).
- Differs from 意外 (yìwài), the broader word for an unexpected event that doesn't necessarily imply fault or an investigation - 事故 is the word used in reports, insurance, and safety contexts.
Example sentences
- 这是一次事故。 Zhè shì yí cì shìgù.There was an accident.
- 事故发生在前天。 Shìgù fāshēng zài qiántiān.The accident happened the day before yesterday.
- 事故发生在一个雨天。 Shìgù fāshēng zài yígè yǔtiān.The accident happened on a rainy day.