控告

• Pinyin: kòng gào
• Hanzi breakdown: 控 = 扌(hand) + 空 (empty/control); 告 = 牛 (cow) + 口 (mouth)

Meaning

To sue; to accuse; to prosecute. The formal act of bringing charges against someone through legal channels.

A legal term describing the formal accusation of someone in court or to authorities. More formal than 告 alone. Often used in contexts involving criminal charges, civil lawsuits, or official complaints against misconduct.

Examples

1. 受害者决定向法院控告那家公司的欺诈行为。 The victim decided to sue that company in court for fraud.
2. 他被员工控告存在职场性骚扰问题。 He was accused by employees of workplace sexual harassment.
3. 检察官正式控告嫌疑人犯有贪污罪。 The prosecutor formally charged the suspect with embezzlement.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, court, accusations

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他控告前雇主违反劳动法。(He sued his former employer for violating labor law.)
• 受害者家属决定控告肇事司机。(The victim's family decided to prosecute the driver responsible.)

Don't Say

• 我要控告你吃了我的零食。(Don't use 控告 for trivial complaints — it implies formal legal action; use 怪 or 埋怨 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 控 (accuse/charge) + 告 (tell/sue). Together means 'to formally accuse.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal