Chinese word

错

Pronunciation

Pinyincuò

Meaning

  • adjectivewrong

Example

我错了。wǒ cuò le

I was wrong.

Illustration for 错 (wrong)

More examples

这个答案是错的。zhè ge dá àn shì cuò de

This answer is wrong.

Core concept

A gap between reality or the correct course and what someone says, thinks, or does.

Common phrases

  • 错了cuò le

    be wrong

  • 太错了tài cuò le

    be very wrong

Similar words

不对bú duì: Not right or not as expected in a particular situation.
错误cuò wù: Incorrect because a judgment or action goes against facts or sound reasoning.

Definition in Chinese

表示事实、判断或做法上存在差错、不正确，常用于判断句中作为否定或修正的表达（如“错了”）。biǎo shì shì shí pàn duàn huò zuò fǎ shàng cún zài chā cuò bú zhèng què cháng yòng yú pàn duàn jù zhōng zuò wéi fǒu dìng huò xiū zhèng de biǎo dá rú cuò le

Word origin

错 (cuò, "wrong") combines 钅 (jīn, "metal"), a meaning element, with 昔 (xī, "past"), a sound element, and its older idea of things not fitting supports the sense of being incorrect.

Usage tips

  • Chinese often puts this adjective after the person, answer, or action it describes, so the subject comes first and the judgment comes after it.

Other meanings

  • mistakenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word