yuángào: 原告 - Plaintiff, Accuser

yuángào: 原告 - Plaintiff, Accuser

Quick Summary

Keywords: 原告, yuangao, yuán gào, what is yuangao in Chinese, plaintiff in Chinese, accuser in Chinese, Chinese legal terms, Chinese law vocabulary, sue in Chinese, lawsuit Chinese, 原告 vs 被告, yuangao vs beigao.
Summary: Learn the meaning of 原告 (yuángào), the essential Chinese word for plaintiff or accuser in a legal case. This guide breaks down the characters, provides cultural context on the Chinese legal system, and shows you how to use yuángào in practical sentences. Understand its role in a lawsuit and how it differs from its counterpart, the defendant, 被告 (bèigào). This page is perfect for students of Chinese law or anyone interested in modern, formal Chinese vocabulary.

Core Meaning

Pinyin (with tone marks): yuán gào
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 6
Concise Definition: The person, group, or entity who initiates a lawsuit against another party in a court of law.
In a Nutshell: 原告 (yuángào) is a formal, legal term. Think of any courtroom drama: the person who feels wronged and decides to take the other person to court is the 原告 (yuángào). They are the “starter” of the legal fight, the one bringing the complaint before a judge.

Character Breakdown

原 (yuán): This character's core meaning is “original,” “primary,” or “source.” It points to the origin of something.
告 (gào): This character means “to tell,” “to inform,” “to report,” or, in a legal context, “to accuse” or “to sue.”
When combined, 原告 (yuángào) literally translates to the “original accuser” or the “source of the complaint.” This paints a clear picture of their role as the initiator of the legal proceedings.

Cultural Context and Significance

原告 (yuángào) is a key term in China's modern civil law system, which has been heavily developed over the past few decades. The role of a plaintiff is functionally very similar to its role in Western legal systems.
However, the cultural attitude towards becoming a 原告 (yuángào) can differ. Traditionally, Chinese culture places a high value on social harmony (和谐, héxié) and avoiding direct confrontation. Filing a lawsuit was often seen as a last resort and could lead to a loss of “face” (面子, miànzi) for all parties involved, as it signified a complete breakdown of a relationship.
In contrast to the more litigious nature of some Western societies like the United States, where suing can be a more common recourse, Chinese culture historically preferred mediation and negotiation. While this is changing rapidly with China's economic development and strengthening legal framework, the cultural undertone of litigation as a serious, harmony-disrupting event still lingers, especially among older generations or in rural areas. Today, being a 原告 (yuángào) is a normal part of civil society, but the decision to become one is often weighed more heavily than in the West.

Practical Usage in Modern China

Formality: This is a highly formal term used almost exclusively in legal contexts.
Where you'll see it: You will encounter 原告 (yuángào) in news reports about court cases, in legal dramas on TV, on official court documents, and in discussions with lawyers or law students.
Connotation: The word itself is neutral. It simply describes a legal role. The person's specific situation determines whether they are viewed sympathetically or not. It is never used in casual conversation to mean a simple “complainer.”

Example Sentences

Example 1:
- 原告向法庭提交了新的证据。
- Pinyin: Yuángào xiàng fǎtíng tíjiāo le xīn de zhèngjù.
- English: The plaintiff submitted new evidence to the court.
- Analysis: A standard, formal sentence you might read in a news article about a trial. It shows the active role of the plaintiff in the legal process.
Example 2:
- 在这起离婚案中，女方是原告。
- Pinyin: Zài zhè qǐ líhūn àn zhōng, nǚfāng shì yuángào.
- English: In this divorce case, the wife is the plaintiff.
- Analysis: This demonstrates how 原告 is used to identify the initiating party in a specific type of civil case.
Example 3:
- 法院最终判决原告胜诉。
- Pinyin: Fǎyuàn zuìzhōng pànjué yuángào shèngsù.
- English: The court finally ruled in favor of the plaintiff.
- Analysis: `胜诉 (shèngsù)` means “to win a lawsuit.” This is a common phrase used to describe the outcome of a case.
Example 4:
- 原告要求被告赔偿经济损失。
- Pinyin: Yuángào yāoqiú bèigào péicháng jīngjì sǔnshī.
- English: The plaintiff demands that the defendant compensate for economic losses.
- Analysis: This sentence clearly shows the classic plaintiff-defendant relationship. Note the use of the antonym 被告 (bèigào) - defendant.
Example 5:
- 他的律师正在代表原告出庭。
- Pinyin: Tā de lǜshī zhèngzài dàibiǎo yuángào chūtíng.
- English: His lawyer is currently in court representing the plaintiff.
- Analysis: This shows how the plaintiff is represented by a 律师 (lǜshī), or lawyer.
Example 6:
- 如果没有足够的证据，原告可能会败诉。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu zúgòu de zhèngjù, yuángào kěnéng huì bàisù.
- English: If there isn't enough evidence, the plaintiff might lose the case.
- Analysis: `败诉 (bàisù)` is the opposite of `胜诉 (shèngsù)` and means “to lose a lawsuit.”
Example 7:
- 原告和被告在庭外达成了和解。
- Pinyin: Yuángào hé bèigào zài tíngwài dáchéng le héjiě.
- English: The plaintiff and the defendant reached a settlement out of court.
- Analysis: `和解 (héjiě)` means “to settle” or “reconcile.” This is a common outcome in civil lawsuits.
Example 8:
- 作为原告，他必须承担举证责任。
- Pinyin: Zuòwéi yuángào, tā bìxū chéngdān jǔzhèng zérèn.
- English: As the plaintiff, he must bear the burden of proof.
- Analysis: `举证责任 (jǔzhèng zérèn)` is the legal term for “burden of proof,” a key concept in law.
Example 9:
- 该公司被多名原告联合起诉。
- Pinyin: Gāi gōngsī bèi duō míng yuángào liánhé qǐsù.
- English: The company was jointly sued by multiple plaintiffs.
- Analysis: This shows that there can be more than one plaintiff in a case, for example, in a class-action lawsuit. `联合起诉 (liánhé qǐsù)` means to sue jointly.
Example 10:
- 原告指控该公司侵犯其专利权。
- Pinyin: Yuángào zhǐkòng gāi gōngsī qīnfàn qí zhuānlìquán.
- English: The plaintiff accused the company of infringing on their patent rights.
- Analysis: This example is specific to a commercial dispute involving `专利权 (zhuānlìquán)`, patent rights.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

Strictly Legal Context: The most common mistake for learners is to use 原告 (yuángào) in a non-legal context. If your friend complains to a manager about bad service, they are a “complainer,” not a 原告 (yuángào). You would only call them a 原告 (yuángào) if they formally filed a lawsuit against the restaurant.
- Incorrect: 我朋友是原告，因为他的咖啡是凉的。(Wǒ péngyou shì yuángào, yīnwèi tā de kāfēi shì liáng de.) - My friend is the plaintiff because his coffee was cold.
- Correct (Informal): 我朋友抱怨说他的咖啡是凉的。(Wǒ péngyou bàoyuàn shuō tā de kāfēi shì liáng de.) - My friend complained that his coffee was cold.
Plaintiff (Civil) vs. Prosecution (Criminal): In English, we might broadly call the state the “accuser” in a criminal trial. In Chinese, the distinction is very clear. 原告 (yuángào) is used for the plaintiff in a civil lawsuit (民事诉讼, mínshì sùsòng). In a criminal case, the role of “accuser” is filled by the state, represented by the prosecutor, which is called the 控方 (kòngfāng).

Related Terms and Concepts

被告 (bèigào) - The direct antonym: defendant; the party being sued.
起诉 (qǐsù) - The verb: to sue, to file a lawsuit. This is the action a 原告 takes.
诉讼 (sùsòng) - The noun for the entire process: a lawsuit or litigation.
法官 (fǎguān) - The judge who presides over the case between the 原告 and the 被告.
法院 (fǎyuàn) - The court; the physical place and institution where the lawsuit happens.
律师 (lǜshī) - The lawyer; a professional who can represent the 原告.
证据 (zhèngjù) - Evidence; what the 原告 must present to support their case.
控方 (kòngfāng) - The prosecution in a criminal case. It is crucial not to confuse this with 原告.
民事诉讼 (mínshì sùsòng) - Civil lawsuit; the primary context in which the term 原告 is used.
赔偿 (péicháng) - Compensation or damages; often what the 原告 is seeking from the defendant.

Table of Contents

yuángào: 原告 - Plaintiff, Accuser

Quick Summary

Core Meaning

Character Breakdown

Cultural Context and Significance

Practical Usage in Modern China

Example Sentences

Nuances and Common Mistakes

Related Terms and Concepts