肇事

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Character Breakdown

Usage and Meaning

The term 肇事 (zhàoshì) specifically refers to causing an accident or incident, often with a negative connotation such as a traffic accident or a disruptive event. It is commonly used in formal or legal contexts to describe the party responsible for initiating an incident.

Common Contexts

You will often see 肇事 used in news reports, police statements, or legal documents when discussing who caused an accident or mishap. It implies responsibility and often legal liability.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 肇事 (zhàoshì zhě): the person who caused the incident; used to identify the responsible party.
  • 肇事 (zhàoshì táoyì): hit-and-run; describes causing an accident and fleeing the scene.
  • 肇事原因 (zhàoshì yuányīn): cause of the incident; used in investigations.

Nuances

Using 肇事 emphasizes the act of causing an incident rather than just being involved. It is more formal and serious than simply saying 发生事故 (fāshēng shìgù, 'an accident happened'). Avoid using 肇事 in casual conversation; it is best reserved for official or written contexts.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse 肇事 with 发生 (fāshēng), which means 'to happen' and does not imply responsibility. 肇事 always implies that someone caused the incident.

Example Sentences

The driver was detained by the police for causing an accident after

The person who caused the incident should bear full responsibility.

The police are investigating the cause of the incident.