====== guòcuò: 过错 - Fault, Error, Transgression ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** guocuo, 过错, Chinese for fault, Chinese for error, blame in Chinese, admit a mistake in Chinese, guo cuo meaning, wrongdoing in Chinese, transgression, culpability, 错误 vs 过错
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **过错 (guòcuò)**, a crucial Chinese term for "fault" or "error" that goes beyond a simple mistake. This page explains how **guòcuò** implies moral blame and responsibility, making it essential for understanding apologies, conflicts, and legal contexts in China. Learn the difference between **过错 (guòcuò)** and **错误 (cuòwù)** and how to use it correctly in conversation.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** guòcuò
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** A fault, wrongdoing, or transgression for which one is culpable.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **过错 (guòcuò)** isn't your everyday "oops" or "my bad." It's a serious word that describes a mistake with negative consequences that you are responsible for. Think of it as a "fault" or "transgression" that has crossed a line, whether legally, socially, or interpersonally. Using or hearing this word signals that the situation is significant and involves blame.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **过 (guò):** The core meaning of this character is "to pass," "to cross," or "to go beyond." In the context of **过错**, it takes on the meaning of "to exceed a limit" or "to transgress." It implies that an action went too far and broke a rule or norm.
  * **错 (cuò):** This character simply means "wrong," "mistake," or "error." It's the foundation of the word's meaning.
  * The two characters combine powerfully: **过 (guò)** adds a sense of transgression to **错 (cuò)**'s "mistake." It's not just a mistake; it's a mistake that has "crossed a line," resulting in a blameworthy fault.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, which often prioritizes social harmony (和谐, héxié) and the preservation of "face" (面子, miànzi), a **过错 (guòcuò)** is a significant disruption. It's an act that creates imbalance in a relationship or a community. Admitting to a **过错** is therefore a very serious and meaningful act. It's not just about accepting legal liability; it's a moral admission intended to repair the broken harmony and show sincere remorse.
A great way to understand **过错 (guòcuò)** is to compare it to the English distinction between "a mistake" and "a fault."
  *   **A "mistake"** (like a `错误, cuòwù`) can be objective and impersonal. "There's a mistake in this calculation."
  *   **"A fault"** (like a `过错, guòcuò`) is personal and implies blame. "The accident was his fault."
While in the West, admitting fault can sometimes be seen as a sign of weakness or a prelude to legal action, in a Chinese context, a sincere admission of **过错** is often a prerequisite for forgiveness and rebuilding trust. It shows that you understand the gravity of your actions and respect the person you have wronged. Refusing to admit a clear **过错** can be seen as arrogant and can cause irreparable damage to a relationship.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
The term **过错 (guòcuò)** is more formal and carries significant weight. You won't hear it used for trivial, everyday slip-ups.
  * **Formal & Legal Situations:** This is the primary domain for **过错**. It's used in court rulings, official company apologies, and formal reprimands to assign blame.
    *   //E.g., "The fault for this incident lies with the management team."// (本次事件的过错在于管理团队。)
  * **Serious Interpersonal Conflicts:** In relationships (family, romantic partners, close friends), admitting "这是我的**过错**" (This is my fault) is a powerful, sincere apology. It's used when someone has been genuinely hurt.
  * **Moral and Ethical Discussions:** People use **过错** when discussing moral wrongdoing or ethical lapses, distinguishing them from simple errors in judgment.
**Connotation:** Almost exclusively negative and serious.
**Formality:** Ranges from formal to very formal. It is rarely used in casual, informal chat.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 这完全是我的**过错**，我愿意承担所有责任。
    * Pinyin: Zhè wánquán shì wǒ de **guòcuò**, wǒ yuànyì chéngdān suǒyǒu zérèn.
    * English: This is entirely my fault, and I am willing to bear all responsibility.
    * Analysis: A classic and very formal apology. This is what you would say in a serious situation, perhaps in a business context or after a major personal failing.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 在这段失败的婚姻里，他们双方都有**过错**。
    * Pinyin: Zài zhè duàn shībài de hūnyīn lǐ, tāmen shuāngfāng dōu yǒu **guòcuò**.
    * English: In this failed marriage, both parties had faults.
    * Analysis: This sentence shows how **过错** can be used to distribute blame. It implies that both people made significant, relationship-damaging errors.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 他已经认识到自己的**过错**，请你原谅他吧。
    * Pinyin: Tā yǐjīng rènshí dào zìjǐ de **guòcuò**, qǐng nǐ yuánliàng tā ba.
    * English: He has already recognized his fault, please forgive him.
    * Analysis: This highlights the connection between recognizing a **过错** and seeking forgiveness (原谅, yuánliàng).
  * **Example 4:**
    * 法官认为，事故的主要**过错**在于超速驾驶的司机。
    * Pinyin: Fǎguān rènwéi, shìgù de zhǔyào **guòcuò** zàiyú chāosù jiàshǐ de sījī.
    * English: The judge determined that the main fault for the accident lay with the speeding driver.
    * Analysis: A perfect example of **过错** used in a legal context to assign official blame.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 孩子犯了**过错**，家长应该耐心教育，而不是一味地指责。
    * Pinyin: Háizi fànle **guòcuò**, jiāzhǎng yīnggāi nàixīn jiàoyù, ér bùshì yīwèi de zhǐzé.
    * English: When a child makes a mistake (fault), parents should educate them patiently instead of just blaming them.
    * Analysis: Here, **过错** is used for a child's mistake, but it still implies a behavior that was genuinely "wrong" (like lying or hitting) rather than a simple error (like spilling milk).
  * **Example 6:**
    * 人非圣贤，孰能无**过**？ (Note: a common chengyu using just one character)
    * Pinyin: Rén fēi shèngxián, shú néng wú **guò**?
    * English: Humans are not sages, who can be without fault? (Essentially: "To err is human.")
    * Analysis: This famous idiom uses **过** as a shorthand for **过错**. It's a philosophical statement about the inevitability of human error and fault.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 公司为产品设计上的**过错**向消费者公开道歉。
    * Pinyin: Gōngsī wèi chǎnpǐn shèjì shàng de **guòcuò** xiàng xiāofèizhě gōngkāi dàoqiàn.
    * English: The company publicly apologized to consumers for the fault in the product's design.
    * Analysis: This shows **过错** in a corporate PR context. The fault isn't just a bug (`错误`); it's a design flaw that harmed or deceived consumers, making the company culpable.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 他试图掩盖自己的**过错**，结果让事情变得更糟。
    * Pinyin: Tā shìtú yǎngài zìjǐ de **guòcuò**, jiéguǒ ràng shìqíng biàndé gèng zāo.
    * English: He tried to cover up his fault, and as a result, made things worse.
    * Analysis: This highlights the moral dimension. Covering up a **过错** is often seen as a second, more serious fault.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 我不认为这是一个**过错**，这只是一个无意的失误。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ bù rènwéi zhè shì yīgè **guòcuò**, zhè zhǐshì yīgè wúyì de shīwù.
    * English: I don't think this was a fault, it was just an unintentional slip-up.
    * Analysis: This sentence is great for learning because it directly contrasts **过错** with a less severe term, **失误 (shīwù)**, which means "lapse" or "blunder."
  * **Example 10:**
    * 改正**过错**是迈向成熟的第一步。
    * Pinyin: Gǎizhèng **guòcuò** shì màixiàng chéngshú de dì yī bù.
    * English: Correcting one's faults is the first step toward maturity.
    * Analysis: A more abstract, advice-oriented sentence emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common mistake for learners is confusing **过错 (guòcuò)** with **错误 (cuòwù)**. They both translate to "mistake" or "error," but their connotations are very different.
  *   **`过错 (guòcuò)`**: Implies **blame, culpability, and negative consequences for others**. It's a moral or social transgression. Use it for serious matters where someone is "at fault."
  *   **`错误 (cuòwù)`**: A general, often neutral term for "mistake," "error," or "incorrect." It can be a factual error, a wrong answer, or a miscalculation. It doesn't necessarily carry any blame.
**Incorrect Usage Example:**
> 哎呀，我在作业里写错了一个字，这是我的**过错**。
> (Āiyā, wǒ zài zuòyè lǐ xiě cuòle yīgè zì, zhè shì wǒ de **guòcuò**.)
> //(Oops, I wrote a character wrong in my homework, this is my fault.)//
**Why it's wrong:** This is far too dramatic and formal. Writing a wrong character is a simple, objective mistake. It's a `错误 (cuòwù)`, not a moral `过错 (guòcuò)`.
**Correct version:** "哎呀，我写了一个**错误**的字。" (Oops, I wrote a wrong character.) or more simply "我写错了一个字。"
**Rule of Thumb:** If "fault" or "transgression" fits in English, you can probably use **过错**. If "error" or "mistake" fits better, use **错误**.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[错误]] (cuòwù) - The general, neutral word for "mistake" or "error." The most important term to distinguish from **过错**.
  * [[责任]] (zérèn) - "Responsibility" or "duty." Committing a **过错** usually means you must bear the **责任**.
  * [[失误]] (shīwù) - A "lapse," "slip-up," or "blunder." It suggests an unintentional mistake in execution, often less severe than a **过错**.
  * [[道歉]] (dàoqiàn) - "To apologize." The action one performs after realizing their **过错**.
  * [[原谅]] (yuánliàng) - "To forgive." What one hopes to receive after apologizing for a **过错**.
  * [[犯错]] (fàncuò) - A common verb phrase meaning "to make a mistake." It's a general term and can refer to making either a **错误** or a **过错**.
  * [[罪过]] (zuìguo) - "Sin" or a very grave "transgression." It's much stronger than **过错** and carries heavy moral or even religious condemnation.
  * [[承担]] (chéngdān) - "To bear," "to assume." Often used with responsibility, e.g., `承担过错` (chéngdān guòcuò) - to bear the fault.
  * [[缺点]] (quēdiǎn) - A "shortcoming" or "flaw" in a person's character or an object. It describes a general quality, whereas **过错** refers to a specific wrongful act.
  * [[改正]] (gǎizhèng) - "To correct," "to rectify." The action of fixing one's mistake or fault, e.g., `改正过错` (gǎizhèng guòcuò).