故障 gùzhàng malfunction
malfunction; breakdown; defect; shortcoming; fault; failure; impediment; error; bug (in software)
How to remember 故障: 故 former + 障 to separate = malfunction.
Characters
How it is used
- A malfunction/breakdown/fault in a machine or system - 出故障 (chū gùzhàng) develop a fault, 故障排除 (gùzhàng páichú) troubleshooting.
- Specifically technical failure of equipment/software; a common noun in maintenance and IT.
- Contrast 毛病 (máobìng), a colloquial 'problem/flaw'; 故障 is the technical, often sudden, failure.
Example sentences
- 我遇到了故障。 Wǒ yùdào le gùzhàng.I encountered a problem.
- 汽车发生故障了。 Qìchē fāshēng gùzhàng le.The car broke down.
- 电梯好像故障了。 Diàntī hǎoxiàng gùzhàng le.The elevator seems to be out of order.