肇事 zhàoshì to cause an accident
to cause an accident; to be responsible for an incident; to provoke a disturbance
How to remember 肇事: 肇 to begin + 事 matter = to cause an accident.
Characters
How it is used
- To cause an accident or incident - 肇事车辆 (zhàoshì chēliàng) the vehicle that caused the accident; 肇事逃逸 (zhàoshì táoyì) hit-and-run.
- Legal/news term specifically for causing a traffic accident or disturbance, and being at fault for it.
- Formal register; note 肇事者 (zhàoshìzhě) the perpetrator/party responsible.