肇事

• Pinyin: zhào shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 肇 = 户 + 攵 + 聿 (to cause/initiate); 事 = 事 (matter/incident)

Meaning

To cause an accident; to be responsible for an incident. Often refers to traffic accidents.

Primarily used for traffic accidents (肇事者 = the party at fault). Can extend to other incidents where someone causes trouble or harm. Legal and formal term. 肇事逃逸 (hit-and-run) is a serious offense.

Examples

1. 肇事司机已被警方控制，正在接受调查。 The driver responsible for the accident has been taken into police custody and is under investigation.
2. 这起交通事故的肇事者是一名酒后驾车的年轻人。 The person who caused this traffic accident was a young man driving under the influence.
3. 肇事车辆逃离现场，警方正在全力追查。 The vehicle responsible for the accident fled the scene, and the police are pursuing it with full force.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, traffic, incidents

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 肇事司机必须承担全部法律责任和赔偿义务。(The driver at fault must bear full legal responsibility and compensation obligations.)
• 警方呼吁肇事逃逸者尽快投案自首。(Police are calling on the hit-and-run perpetrator to turn themselves in as soon as possible.)

Don't Say

• 肇事故 — redundant; 肇事 already implies causing an accident; just say 肇事

Origin & History

肇 (to cause/begin) + 事 (incident/matter)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal