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无故 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
无故wúgùwithout cause or reasonHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #13267, Very Hard
wúgù(wu2gu4) T2
  1. 1without cause or reason
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March 24, 2026

无故(無故)wúgù(wu2gu4)

无故 (wú gù) means 'without cause or reason.' It is commonly used to describe actions or situations that occur unexpectedly or without justification, often implying a sense of unfairness or randomness. This phrase is frequently used in both spoken and written contexts to express frustration or confusion about an unexplainable event.

Strokes13Frequency#13267DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, explaining reasons is often important in social interactions. The phrase 无故 can reflect cultural values around fairness and the need for justification in personal and professional relationships.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person looking puzzled, saying 'Why did this happen without any reason?' The character 无 (wú) resembles a person with arms raised in confusion, while 故 (gù) can be associated with an old story or reason that is missing. Together, they evoke the idea of a situation that lacks a narrative or justification.

Meanings of 无故

wúgù(wu2gu4)
1without cause or reason
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About 无故

无故Simplified
無故Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 无故

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Podcast: 无故

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AI Study Notes for 无故

Quick Contrast

无缘 (wúyuán) - use 无故 when emphasizing the absence of a cause; use 无缘 to indicate a lack of connection or fate.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 无故 with similar phrases like 无缘 (wú yuán), which means 'without affinity.' 无故 is typically used in a more negative context. It is more informal, so it may not be suitable for formal writing.

HSK Study Tips

While 无故 is not explicitly listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects to the theme of reasons and explanations present in levels 3 and 4 vocabulary. Students should focus on understanding its application in sentences and practice using it in everyday conversations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 无故 with 故事 (gù shì, meaning 'story'), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 无故 specifically pertains to actions without cause, while 故事 refers to narratives.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 无故

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Component Characters

无wú-less
HSK 44 strokes无
View full entry
故gùhappening
HSK 79 strokes攵
View full entry

How to say without cause or reason in Chinese

“without cause or reason” in Chinese is无故wúgù

无故 (wú gù) means 'without cause or reason.' It is commonly used to describe actions or situations that occur unexpectedly or without justification, often implying a sense of unfairness or randomness. This phrase is frequently used in both spoken and written contexts to express frustration or confusion about an unexplainable event.

When to use 无故

Be cautious not to confuse 无故 with similar phrases like 无缘 (wú yuán), which means 'without affinity.' 无故 is typically used in a more negative context. It is more informal, so it may not be suitable for formal writing.

无故 or something close to it

无缘 (wúyuán) - use 无故 when emphasizing the absence of a cause; use 无缘 to indicate a lack of connection or fate.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 无故 with 故事 (gù shì, meaning 'story'), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 无故 specifically pertains to actions without cause, while 故事 refers to narratives.

Write 无故

无
故

Practice writing 无故 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 无故

It's generally considered informal, so it's better suited for conversational contexts.

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