官司

• Pinyin: guān si
• Hanzi breakdown: 官 = 宀 (roof) + 㠯 (body), meaning official; 司 = 口 (mouth) + 一 (line), meaning to manage

Meaning

Lawsuit; legal case. A dispute that is resolved through the court system.

A common colloquial term for legal disputes and court cases. Common collocations: 打官司 (file a lawsuit, litigate), 吃官司 (be sued, face legal trouble), 赢官司/输官司 (win/lose a lawsuit). More colloquial than 诉讼 (litigation). Can refer to civil or criminal cases, though usually civil disputes.

Examples

1. 他们为了房产继承问题打了三年的官司，至今还没有结果。 They've been in a lawsuit over inheritance issues for three years and still haven't reached a conclusion.
2. 这家公司因为侵权被告上法庭，官司缠身。 This company was sued for infringement and is now entangled in lawsuits.
3. 与其打官司，不如坐下来好好协商，找到双方都能接受的方案。 Rather than going to court, it's better to sit down and negotiate to find a solution both sides can accept.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, disputes, business

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他们在打官司。(They're in a lawsuit.)
• 我不想吃官司。(I don't want to get into legal trouble.)

Don't Say

• 在正式法律文件中用官司 (In formal legal documents, use 诉讼 or 案件 instead of the colloquial 官司)

Origin & History

Compound of 官 (official, government) + 司 (to manage, department). Originally referred to government affairs, then specifically to legal matters handled by officials. In imperial China, lawsuits were resolved by local magistrates (官).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal