dǎ guānsi: 打官司 - To Sue, To Go to Court, To Be in a Lawsuit

• Keywords: da guansi, 打官司, sue in Chinese, lawsuit in Chinese, go to court Chinese, legal action in Mandarin, how to say sue in Chinese, filing a lawsuit in China, Chinese legal terms.
• Summary: “打官司 (dǎ guānsi)” is the essential Chinese phrase for “to sue” or “to go to court.” This page explains its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage. Learn how to use this term correctly, understand why it's often seen as a last resort in Chinese culture, and see 10 example sentences that show you how to talk about lawsuits in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dǎ guānsi
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To engage in a legal dispute; to sue or be sued.
• In a Nutshell: `打官司` is the common, everyday term for the entire process of a lawsuit, from filing the case to appearing in court. It's a “verb-object” phrase, literally meaning “to do a lawsuit.” The term carries a heavy, serious connotation, implying a major conflict that could not be resolved through negotiation or mediation, and is almost always seen as a stressful, negative event.

• 打 (dǎ): While its most common meaning is “to hit” or “to strike,” in many phrases like this one, `打` takes on the meaning of “to engage in,” “to do,” or “to deal with.” Think of `打电话 (dǎ diànhuà)` - to make a phone call.
• 官 (guān): This character means “official,” “government,” or “public.” It points to the formal, state-sanctioned nature of the legal process.
• 司 (sī): This character means “to manage,” “to control,” or “department.” It is a core component of legal and administrative terms, such as `司法 (sīfǎ)` which means “judiciary.”

The two characters `官司 (guānsi)` together form a noun that specifically means “lawsuit.” Adding `打 (dǎ)` in front turns it into the action: “to do a lawsuit.”

For an English speaker, understanding `打官司` requires more than just a direct translation; it requires a cultural one. In many Western cultures, particularly the United States, lawsuits are a relatively common and accepted method for resolving disputes. It can be a standard business practice or a personal tool for seeking justice. While never pleasant, it doesn't always carry a deep social stigma. In traditional Chinese culture, however, the situation is quite different. The concept of harmony (和, hé) is paramount. Society has historically been structured to avoid direct, public confrontation. Taking someone to court, or to `打官司`, is often viewed as a last, desperate resort. It signifies a complete breakdown of a relationship and a failure to resolve a problem through more culturally acceptable means like negotiation or mediation (`调解, tiáojiě`). Engaging in a lawsuit can lead to a loss of “face” (面子, miànzi) for everyone involved. It airs the “dirty laundry” in public and is seen as aggressive and disruptive to social harmony. For this reason, even when they have a strong case, people may be reluctant to sue, preferring to find a private solution to “give face” to the other party and preserve the relationship, if possible. While this is changing in modern China's business world, the underlying cultural hesitation remains a powerful force.

Despite the cultural preference for harmony, `打官司` is a very practical and increasingly common term in modern China. As the economy has developed, so has the legal system.

• In Business: You'll frequently hear `打官司` in the context of contract disputes, intellectual property theft, or disagreements between companies.
• In Personal Life: It's used for serious civil matters like contested divorces (`离婚官司, líhūn guānsi`), inheritance disputes, or major accidents.
• In the News: Media reports on legal cases, both domestic and international, will almost always use the term `打官司`.

Connotation & Formality: The connotation is almost universally negative and serious. It implies stress, conflict, and significant trouble. You would not use it jokingly. The term itself is neutral in formality and is used in both everyday conversation and more formal written contexts.

• Example 1:
  • 他们因为房子的事在打官司。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen yīnwèi fángzi de shì zài dǎ guānsi.
  • English: They are in a lawsuit over the house.
  • Analysis: A simple, common statement. `因为…在打官司` (yīnwèi… zài dǎ guānsi) is a useful pattern for explaining the reason for the lawsuit.
• Example 2:
  • 如果你不付钱，我就跟你打官司。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù fù qián, wǒ jiù gēn nǐ dǎ guānsi.
  • English: If you don't pay, I'll sue you.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the common structure `A 跟 B 打官司` (A sues B). It's used here as a direct threat or warning.
• Example 3:
  • 我真的不想打官司，太麻烦了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhēn de bùxiǎng dǎ guānsi, tài máfan le.
  • English: I really don't want to go to court, it's too much trouble.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly captures the cultural reluctance. `太麻烦了 (tài máfan le)` is a classic expression for something being troublesome or a hassle.
• Example 4:
  • 这家公司去年和苹果打了一场官司。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī qùnián hé Píngguǒ dǎ le yī chǎng guānsi.
  • English: This company had a lawsuit with Apple last year.
  • Analysis: The verb `打` and object `官司` are separated by the measure word `场 (chǎng)`. `一场官司` means “a lawsuit” or “one lawsuit.”
• Example 5:
  • 打官司需要很多时间和金钱。
  • Pinyin: Dǎ guānsi xūyào hěnduō shíjiān hé jīnqián.
  • English: Going to court requires a lot of time and money.
  • Analysis: Here, `打官司` functions as the subject of the sentence, meaning “the act of suing.”
• Example 6:
  • 他请了城里最好的律师来帮他打官司。
  • Pinyin: Tā qǐng le chéng lǐ zuì hǎo de lǜshī lái bāng tā dǎ guānsi.
  • English: He hired the best lawyer in the city to help him with the lawsuit.
  • Analysis: This shows the connection between lawyers (`律师, lǜshī`) and the act of suing. `帮他打官司` means “to help him sue” or “represent him in court.”
• Example 7:
  • 他们的离婚官司打了整整一年。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de líhūn guānsi dǎ le zhěngzhěng yī nián.
  • English: Their divorce lawsuit dragged on for a whole year.
  • Analysis: This shows how `官司` can be modified, as in `离婚官司` (divorce lawsuit). The verb `打` here implies the duration of the process.
• Example 8:
  • 你确定要为了这点小事打官司吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ quèdìng yào wèile zhè diǎn xiǎoshì dǎ guānsi ma?
  • English: Are you sure you want to go to court over such a small matter?
  • Analysis: A rhetorical question used to express that suing might be an overreaction, highlighting that `打官司` is reserved for serious issues.
• Example 9:
  • 我们最终决定不打官司，而是选择和解。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zuìzhōng juédìng bù dǎ guānsi, érshì xuǎnzé héjiě.
  • English: In the end, we decided not to sue, but chose to settle instead.
  • Analysis: This directly contrasts `打官司` with its alternative, `和解 (héjiě)`, meaning to settle or reconcile.
• Example 10:
  • 在中国打官司的程序是怎样的？
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó dǎ guānsi de chéngxù shì zěnyàng de?
  • English: What is the procedure for filing a lawsuit in China?
  • Analysis: A practical question a foreigner might ask. `…的程序 (…de chéngxù)` means “the procedure of…”

• Don't Use It for Minor Arguments: A common mistake for learners is to use `打官司` for any disagreement. If you're having an argument with a friend about a movie, you are `吵架 (chǎojià)`. If you are debating a point with a colleague, you might be `理论 (lǐlùn)`. `打官司` is exclusively for formal, legal action in a court of law.
  • Incorrect: 我和朋友为谁该洗碗打了官司。 (Wǒ hé péngyǒu wèi shéi gāi xǐ wǎn dǎ le guānsi.) → “My friend and I had a lawsuit over who should do the dishes.” (This sounds absurd in Chinese).
  • Correct: 我和朋友为谁该洗碗吵了一架。 (Wǒ hé péngyǒu wèi shéi gāi xǐ wǎn chǎo le yī jià.)
• Grammar: “To Sue Someone”: The structure is A 跟 B 打官司 (A gēn B dǎ guānsi) or A 和 B 打官司 (A hé B dǎ guānsi). You don't place the person being sued directly after the phrase.
  • Incorrect: 我要打官司他。 (Wǒ yào dǎ guānsi tā.)
  • Correct: 我要跟他打官司。 (Wǒ yào gēn tā dǎ guānsi.)

• 诉讼 (sùsòng) - The formal, written legal term for “litigation.” `打官司` is the spoken, common equivalent.
• 起诉 (qǐsù) - To prosecute; to formally initiate a lawsuit. This is the specific action of filing the case.
• 告 (gào) - To sue, accuse, or inform on. A more general and versatile verb. `我要去告你 (Wǒ yào qù gào nǐ)` can mean “I'm going to sue you” or “I'm going to report you.”
• 律师 (lǜshī) - Lawyer. The professional you hire to help you `打官司`.
• 法院 (fǎyuàn) - Courthouse / Court of law. The physical place where a `官司` takes place.
• 原告 (yuángào) - Plaintiff. The person who initiates the lawsuit.
• 被告 (bèigào) - Defendant. The person being sued.
• 调解 (tiáojiě) - Mediation. The process of using a neutral third party to resolve a dispute, the culturally preferred alternative to `打官司`.
• 和解 (héjiě) - To settle (a dispute); to reconcile. A common outcome of `调解` or a way to end a lawsuit before a verdict.
• 胜诉 (shèngsù) / 败诉 (bàisù) - To win a lawsuit / To lose a lawsuit. The two possible outcomes of `打官司`.