原告

• Pinyin: yuán gào
• Hanzi breakdown: 原 = original/initiating; 告 = 牛 (ox) + 口 (mouth), meaning to report/accuse

Meaning

Plaintiff; claimant. The party who initiates a lawsuit or brings a case to court.

A legal term used in court proceedings. The opposite is 被告 (defendant). Common phrases: 原告方 (the plaintiff's side), 原告律师 (plaintiff's attorney), 作为原告 (as the plaintiff). Essential vocabulary for legal contexts.

Examples

1. 原告要求被告赔偿经济损失共计五十万元。 The plaintiff demanded that the defendant pay a total of 500,000 yuan in economic damages.
2. 法庭上，原告提供了充分的证据支持自己的主张。 In court, the plaintiff provided sufficient evidence to support their claims.
3. 这起案件的原告是一家知名企业。 The plaintiff in this case is a well-known company.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, court, news

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 原告胜诉了。(The plaintiff won the case.)
• 原告方提出了上诉。(The plaintiff's side filed an appeal.)

Don't Say

• 我是这件事的原告 — 日常纠纷不用'原告'，原告专指法律诉讼中的起诉方

Origin & History

Compound of 原 (original, the one who initiates) + 告 (to accuse, report). The party who originally brings the accusation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal