Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
事故 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
事故shìgùaccidentHSK 5, n, 17 strokes, rank #1820, Hard
shìgù(shi4gu4)shi gu T4
  1. 1accident
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

事故shìgù(shi4gu4)

事故 (shì gù) refers to an unexpected event or mishap, often resulting in damage or injury. It is commonly used in contexts involving transportation, workplace incidents, or any unforeseen events that disrupt normal operations.

Strokes17Frequency#1820DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussions about 事故 often highlight the importance of safety regulations, especially in the context of rapid urbanization and industrial growth. There is a strong societal emphasis on preventing accidents, particularly in transportation and workplace environments.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'shiny goat' (sounds like 'shi4 gu4') that causes an accident while trying to cross the road. The goat represents unpredictability, which aligns well with the idea of an accident. Visualize this goat causing a chaos, linking the image to the word.

Meanings of 事故

shìgù(shi4gu4)
1accident
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 事故 means.

About 事故

事故Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1820Frequency Rank
桩Measure Word
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 事故

JasonAmy

Podcast: 事故

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 事故

Quick Contrast

意外 (yìwài): use 事故 (shìgù) when specifically referring to an event with negative consequences, while 意外 (yìwài) can imply surprise without necessarily negative outcomes.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 事故 with other terms like 意外 (yì wài), which means 'unexpected' but does not always imply damage. 事故 is often used in formal contexts, such as news reports or official statements. Common collocations include 交通事故 (traffic accident) and 工伤事故 (workplace accident).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 事故 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to law, safety, and emergency responses. Focus on its usage in formal settings and practice forming sentences that include related terms to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 事故 with 事件 (shìjiàn), which means 'event' and lacks the negative connotation. For example, saying '我参加了一个事故' (Wǒ cānjiāle yīgè shìgù) is incorrect; use '事件' instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 事故

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 事故 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 事故 to You

Let me explain 事故 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 事故 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 事故?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 事故 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component Characters

事shìmatter
HSK 18 strokes亅
View full entry
故gùhappening
HSK 79 strokes攵
View full entry

How to say accident in Chinese

“accident” in Chinese is事故shìgù

事故 (shì gù) refers to an unexpected event or mishap, often resulting in damage or injury. It is commonly used in contexts involving transportation, workplace incidents, or any unforeseen events that disrupt normal operations.

When to use 事故

Be careful not to confuse 事故 with other terms like 意外 (yì wài), which means 'unexpected' but does not always imply damage. 事故 is often used in formal contexts, such as news reports or official statements. Common collocations include 交通事故 (traffic accident) and 工伤事故 (workplace accident).

事故 or something close to it

意外 (yìwài): use 事故 (shìgù) when specifically referring to an event with negative consequences, while 意外 (yìwài) can imply surprise without necessarily negative outcomes.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 事故 with 事件 (shìjiàn), which means 'event' and lacks the negative connotation. For example, saying '我参加了一个事故' (Wǒ cānjiāle yīgè shìgù) is incorrect; use '事件' instead.

Write 事故

事
故

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 事故

事故 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

____原因尚未查明。

The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.

Example Sentences for 事故 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
库克船长驾驶的船安全出航100次无事故。

kù kè chuán cháng jià shǐ de chuán ān quán chū háng100 100 cì wú shì。

Captain Cook safely navigated his ship without accident for 100 voyages.
2
还有几次事故主要是起飞时引擎出现故障造成的。

huán yǒu jī cì shì gù zhǔ yào shì qǐ fēi shí yǐn qíng chū xiàn gù zhàng zào chéng de。

There were also several accidents mainly caused by engine failures on take-off.
3
韦尔因为一次打高尔夫时发生的离奇事故折断了腿。

wéi ěr yīn wéi yī cì dǎ gāo ěr fū shí fā shēng de lí qí shì gù zhē duàn le tuǐ。

Weir broke his leg in a freak accident playing golf.
4
理查森在一次摩托车事故中失去了他的右脚。

lǐ chá sēn zài yī cì mó tuō chē shì gù zhōng shī qù le tā de yòu jiǎo。

Richardson severed his right foot in a motorbike accident.
5
他差点在一场撞车事故中丧命。

tā chà diǎn zài yī cháng zhuàng chē shì gù zhōng sāng mìng。

He was near to death after a car smash.
6
不管什么年龄都有可能遭遇意外事故和突发疾病。

bù guǎn shí mó nián líng dū yǒu kě néng zāo yù yì wài shì gù hé tū fā jí bìng。

Accidents and sudden illnesses are no respecters of age.
7
事故是由为了看热闹而减速的人引起的。

shì gù shì yóu wéi le kàn rè nào ér jiǎn sù de rén yǐn qǐ de。

The accident was caused by people slowing down to rubber-neck.
8
每年有5,000人死于家中的意外事故。

měi nián yǒu5,000 5,000 rén sǐ yú jiā zhōng de yì wài shì。

5,000 people die every year because of accidents in the home.
9
安德鲁在那次事故后就只能呆在轮椅上了。

ān dé lǔ zài nà cì shì gù hòu jiù zhī néng dāi zài lún yǐ shàng le。

Andrew has been left wheelchair-bound after the accident.
10
那起事故仿佛是过去灾难的重现。

nà qǐ shì gù fǎng fó shì guò qù zāi nán de zhòng xiàn。

The accident has echoes of past disasters.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 事故?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Cultural Notes for 事故

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the concept of an 'accident' might be treated more lightly, often resulting in humorous anecdotes, while in Chinese culture, it tends to carry serious implications and calls for immediate attention.

Frequently Asked Questions about 事故

You can say, '昨天发生了一起交通事故' (Zuótiān fāshēngle yī qǐ jiāotōng shìgù), meaning 'An accident occurred yesterday.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 事故?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab