chūguǐ: 出轨 - To Have an Affair, To Cheat (on a partner); To Derail

• Keywords: 出轨, chugui, what does chugui mean, Chinese for cheating, have an affair in Chinese, Chinese slang for affair, infidelity in China, 出轨 meaning, derail in Chinese, emotional cheating, relationship terms Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 出轨 (chūguǐ), a powerful Chinese term that literally means “to go off the rails.” While it can describe a train derailing, it's most commonly used in modern Chinese to mean having an affair or cheating on a romantic partner. This page breaks down its direct metaphorical meaning, its cultural significance in modern China, and provides practical example sentences to help you understand this essential word for discussing relationships, gossip, and media.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chūguǐ
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To be unfaithful to one's spouse or partner; to have an extramarital affair.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a train running smoothly on its designated tracks—this represents a committed relationship. 出轨 (chūguǐ) is the vivid metaphor for that train suddenly veering off its path. It describes the act of someone “derailing” from their relationship by cheating. The term carries a strong, negative connotation of betrayal, breaking a social contract, and causing a catastrophic relational failure. It is the standard, go-to word for this topic in China.

• 出 (chū): To go out, to exit, to leave. This character depicts a foot (止) stepping out of a boundary or container (凵).
• 轨 (guǐ): A track, rail, or orbit. The left side 车 (chē) means “cart” or “vehicle,” and the right side 九 (jiǔ) provides the sound. Together, they represent the track a vehicle runs on.

The two characters combine to form a direct and powerful metaphor: “to go out of the track.” This literal meaning of derailment is now almost completely overshadowed by its figurative meaning of derailing from the “track” of a committed relationship.

• The Derailment Metaphor: In Chinese culture, where social harmony and adherence to prescribed roles can be highly valued, the metaphor of 出轨 (chūguǐ) is particularly potent. It implies not just a personal mistake but a deviation from a socially-approved path, a systemic failure that disrupts the established order of a family unit. This makes the act feel less like a simple “mistake” and more like a fundamental violation of one's role and responsibilities.
• Comparison to “Cheating”: In English, “to cheat” can sound somewhat juvenile or like breaking a rule in a game (e.g., “cheating on a test”). While it's serious in a relationship context, 出轨 (chūguǐ) feels more structural and severe. It frames the relationship as a formal journey on a set path (the marriage or commitment), and the affair as a catastrophic departure from that journey. This term is a cornerstone of modern Chinese TV dramas, celebrity gossip, and social discourse about the fragility and importance of marital fidelity.

• Connotation: Universally negative and serious. It is a direct accusation or statement of fact about infidelity.
• Formality: The term is standard and can be used in both formal news reports and informal, gossipy conversations. It is not considered vulgar slang.
• Common Contexts:
  • Gossip and Media: You will hear 出轨 (chūguǐ) constantly in discussions about celebrities or public figures caught in scandals. News headlines frequently use “被爆出轨” (bèi bào chūguǐ) - “was exposed for having an affair.”
  • Personal Conversations: Friends use it to discuss their own or others' relationship problems. It is the most common word for this concept.
  • Emotional Affairs: The term 精神出轨 (jīngshén chūguǐ), or “spiritual/emotional cheating,” is a very common modern concept. It describes developing a deep, romantic, but non-physical connection with someone outside of the relationship.

• Example 1:
  • 他被发现对妻子出轨了。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi fāxiàn duì qīzi chūguǐ le.
  • English: He was discovered to have cheated on his wife.
  • Analysis: A standard, passive-voice sentence construction often seen in news or gossip. `被 (bèi)` indicates the passive voice (“was discovered”).
• Example 2:
  • 你为什么会认为我出轨了？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme huì rènwéi wǒ chūguǐ le?
  • English: Why would you think I had an affair?
  • Analysis: A common question used in an argument or confrontation. `认为 (rènwéi)` means “to think” or “to believe.”
• Example 3:
  • 出轨是无法原谅的背叛。
  • Pinyin: Chūguǐ shì wúfǎ yuánliàng de bèipàn.
  • English: Having an affair is an unforgivable betrayal.
  • Analysis: Here, 出轨 functions as a noun, representing the concept of infidelity. `无法 (wúfǎ)` means “unable to” or “no way to.”
• Example 4:
  • 她怀疑她男朋友跟别的女孩出轨。
  • Pinyin: Tā huáiyí tā nánpéngyou gēn biéde nǚhái chūguǐ.
  • English: She suspects her boyfriend is cheating on her with another girl.
  • Analysis: `怀疑 (huáiyí)` means “to suspect.” `跟 (gēn)` is used here to mean “with.”
• Example 5:
  • 这部电视剧的剧情就是关于一个男人出轨后如何挽回他的家庭。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànshìjù de jùqíng jiùshì guānyú yīgè nánrén chūguǐ hòu rúhé wǎnhuí tā de jiātíng.
  • English: The plot of this TV drama is about how a man tries to win back his family after having an affair.
  • Analysis: This shows how central the theme of 出轨 is in popular media. `关于 (guānyú)` means “about” or “regarding.”
• Example 6:
  • 我不能接受任何形式的出轨，包括精神出轨。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bùnéng jiēshòu rènhé xíngshì de chūguǐ, bāokuò jīngshén chūguǐ.
  • English: I cannot accept any form of infidelity, including emotional cheating.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces the important related term `精神出轨 (jīngshén chūguǐ)`, meaning emotional infidelity.
• Example 7:
  • 很多婚姻因为一方出轨而破裂。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō hūnyīn yīnwèi yīfāng chūguǐ ér pòliè.
  • English: Many marriages break apart because one partner has an affair.
  • Analysis: The structure `因为…而… (yīnwèi…ér…)` is a common way to express cause and effect. `破裂 (pòliè)` means “to break apart” or “to rupture.”
• Example 8:
  • 他向朋友承认自己出轨了。
  • Pinyin: Tā xiàng péngyou chéngrèn zìjǐ chūguǐ le.
  • English: He admitted to his friend that he had cheated.
  • Analysis: `承认 (chéngrèn)` means “to admit” or “to confess.” `向 (xiàng)` means “to” or “towards.”
• Example 9:
  • 与其天天担心他会不会出轨，不如好好沟通。
  • Pinyin: Yǔqí tiāntiān dānxīn tā huì bu huì chūguǐ, bùrú hǎohǎo gōutōng.
  • English: Rather than worrying every day whether he will cheat, it would be better to communicate well.
  • Analysis: The `与其…不如… (yǔqí…bùrú…)` structure means “rather than A, it's better to B.” It's a useful pattern for giving advice.
• Example 10: (Literal Meaning)
  • 昨天夜里，一列火车在山区出轨，幸好无人伤亡。
  • Pinyin: Zuótiān yèlǐ, yī liè huǒchē zài shānqū chūguǐ, xìnghǎo wú rén shāngwáng.
  • English: Last night, a train derailed in the mountains; fortunately, there were no casualties.
  • Analysis: This is an important example of the word's literal meaning. While less common in daily conversation, it's the origin of the metaphor and is used in news about transportation accidents.

• Mistake 1: Confusing it with cheating on a test.
  • English speakers might be tempted to use 出轨 for any kind of “cheating.” This is incorrect.
  • Incorrect: 他在考试中出轨了。 (Tā zài kǎoshì zhōng chūguǐ le.)
  • Correct: 他在考试中作弊了。 (Tā zài kǎoshì zhōng zuòbì le.)
  • Explanation: 出轨 (chūguǐ) is almost exclusively for relationship infidelity. For cheating in exams, games, or competitions, you must use 作弊 (zuòbì).
• Mistake 2: Underestimating its seriousness.
  • Don't use 出轨 (chūguǐ) lightly. It is a strong, serious term. While you can use it to gossip, it's not a casual or funny word. It implies a deep breach of trust.
• Nuance: 出轨 (chūguǐ) vs. 骗 (piàn)
  • 骗 (piàn) means “to lie” or “to deceive.” It's a general term. A person who has an affair is certainly deceiving (`骗`) their partner, but 出轨 (chūguǐ) refers to the specific act of infidelity itself. You can `骗` someone about money, your age, or your job, but you can only 出轨 on your partner.

• 小三 (xiǎosān): Literally “little three.” The ubiquitous and often derogatory slang term for the third person in an affair, the mistress or “the other woman/man.”
• 劈腿 (pītuǐ): Literally “to split legs.” A very informal, slangy term for cheating, synonymous with `出轨`. Often used for non-married couples.
• 婚外情 (hūnwàiqíng): “Outside-of-marriage feelings/relationship.” A more formal and descriptive term for an extramarital affair.
• 背叛 (bèipàn): To betray. A broader term. `出轨` is a specific type of `背叛`.
• 作弊 (zuòbì): To cheat (in a game, on a test). The correct term for non-romantic cheating.
• 离婚 (líhūn): To divorce. A common legal and social consequence of `出轨`.
• 忠诚 (zhōngchéng): Loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness. The conceptual opposite of `出轨`.
• 精神出轨 (jīngshén chūguǐ): “Spiritual/Emotional affair.” A modern concept describing a romantic but non-physical affair.