事故

• Reading: じこ
• Romaji: jiko
• Kanji breakdown: 事 (ji/koto) — matter, affair; 故 (ko/yue) — cause, incident, reason
• Pronunciation: /dʑi.ko/

Meaning

Accident; incident; trouble. An unexpected harmful event, especially involving vehicles.

A noun that covers a wide range of accidents and incidents. Most commonly refers to traffic accidents (交通事故) but also applies to industrial accidents, nuclear incidents, and other mishaps. Often heard in news reports and everyday conversation.

Examples

1. 駅の近くで事故があったそうです。 I heard there was an accident near the station.
2. 彼は車の事故で足を怪我した。 He injured his leg in a car accident.
3. 事故のせいで電車が止まっている。 The trains are stopped because of an accident.

Usage Guide

Context: news, driving, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 事 (matter, affair) and 故 (cause, incident). Together they mean an incident or affair caused by some misfortune.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal