没错

• Pinyin: méi cuò
• Hanzi breakdown: 没 = 氵(water) + 殳 (strike) — to not have; 错 = 钅(metal) + 昔 (past) — mistake, wrong

Meaning

That's right; correct; no mistake. An expression used to confirm something is correct or to express agreement.

Used as a response to confirm what someone said is correct, similar to 'that's right' or 'exactly' in English. Can also mean 'there's no mistake about it' when used emphatically. Very common in spoken Chinese. More casual than 对 in some contexts and can carry emphasis.

Examples

1. 没错，我就是昨天给你打电话的那个人。 That's right — I'm the one who called you yesterday.
2. 你说的没错，这件事确实需要尽快处理。 You're absolutely right — this matter really needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.
3. 没错，会议时间改到了下午三点。 Correct — the meeting time has been changed to three o'clock in the afternoon.

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, everyday

Tone: affirmative

Do Say

• 没错，就是这样。(That's right, exactly like that.)
• 你的理解没错。(Your understanding is correct.)

Don't Say

• 没错，你做得很差 — using 没错 to confirm something negative can sound rude or sarcastic; soften with 嗯 or 是的 instead

Origin & History

没 means 'not' or 'without' and 错 means 'wrong' or 'mistake.' Together, 'without mistake' — that is, correct.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal