zhǐkòng: 指控 - To Accuse, To Charge (with a Crime)

• Keywords: zhikong, 指控, accuse in Chinese, charge with a crime Chinese, how to say accuse, Chinese legal terms, formal accusation, 指控 vs 控告, 指控 meaning, press charges in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 指控 (zhǐkòng), a formal verb meaning “to accuse” or “to charge,” primarily used in legal, official, or serious contexts. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage with numerous example sentences, helping you understand how to talk about serious allegations and criminal charges in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhǐ kòng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To formally accuse or charge someone with a crime or serious wrongdoing.
• In a Nutshell: 指控 (zhǐkòng) is not for everyday complaints. Think of it as the word you'd see in a news headline about a court case or an official investigation. It carries significant weight and implies a formal, specific allegation is being made, often with the intention of initiating legal or disciplinary action. It's the verbal equivalent of pointing a finger in a courtroom.

• 指 (zhǐ): This character means “to point” or “to indicate.” The character itself (指) is composed of the “hand” radical (扌) on the left and a phonetic component (旨) on the right. It vividly depicts the action of pointing with one's hand.
• 控 (kòng): This character means “to control” or, in this context, “to accuse.” It also features the “hand” radical (扌), signifying an action, combined with 空 (kōng), which means “empty” or “sky.” In a legal context, this “hand action” is one of making a formal charge.
• Combined Meaning: The characters combine to form a powerful image: “to point (指) and accuse (控).” This fusion creates a word that is much stronger than simply “saying” someone did something wrong. It's a direct, pointed, and formal accusation.

In a culture that often prioritizes social harmony (和谐, héxié) and the preservation of “face” (面子, miànzi), making a public 指控 (zhǐkòng) is a very serious act. It's a step that can irrevocably damage relationships and reputations. For this reason, formal accusations are not made lightly. Compared to the English word “accuse,” 指控 (zhǐkòng) occupies a more formal and serious space. You can “accuse” a friend of eating the last cookie, but you would never use 指控 for such a trivial matter. 指控 is much closer in gravity to the English legal phrases “to press charges,” “to file a charge against,” or “to indict.” It signals that a situation has escalated beyond a personal dispute into the realm of official procedure, whether it be legal, corporate, or political. Failing to substantiate a 指控 can lead to a significant loss of face for the accuser, and in some cases, legal consequences for slander (污蔑, wūmiè).

指控 (zhǐkòng) is predominantly used in formal contexts. You will rarely hear it in casual conversation unless someone is speaking ironically or recounting a very serious event.

• Legal and Criminal Justice: This is its primary domain. News reports, legal documents, and official police statements will use 指控 to describe the charges filed against a suspect.
  • e.g., “The prosecution's main charge is fraud.” (检察官的主要指控是欺诈。)
• Politics and International Relations: Countries or political parties often 指控 each other of espionage, human rights violations, or breaking treaties.
  • e.g., “They accused the neighboring country of violating the ceasefire agreement.” (他们指控邻国违反了停火协议。)
• Corporate and Workplace Misconduct: For serious allegations like embezzlement, harassment, or data theft within a company, 指控 is the appropriate term for the formal charge.
  • e.g., “She faced accusations of leaking company secrets.” (她面临泄露公司机密的指控。)

The word itself is neutral in that it simply states the action of accusing. However, the context is almost always negative, as it deals with wrongdoing.

• Example 1:
  • 警方指控他犯有盗窃罪。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng zhǐkòng tā fàn yǒu dàoqièzuì.
  • English: The police charged him with theft.
  • Analysis: A classic, straightforward example of 指控 used in a legal context. It clearly states who is accusing (警方, police) and what the charge is (盗窃罪, theft).
• Example 2:
  • 他被指控收受贿赂。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi zhǐkòng shōushòu huìlù.
  • English: He was accused of accepting bribes.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the passive structure with 被 (bèi), which is very common with 指控. The focus is on the person being accused, not the accuser.
• Example 3:
  • 这位官员否认了所有对他的指控。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi guānyuán fǒurènle suǒyǒu duì tā de zhǐkòng.
  • English: The official denied all the accusations against him.
  • Analysis: Here, 指控 is used as a noun meaning “accusation(s)”. The structure “对 [someone] 的指控” (duì…de zhǐkòng) means “the accusation(s) against [someone]”.
• Example 4:
  • 媒体的指控毫无根据，完全是诽谤。
  • Pinyin: Méitǐ de zhǐkòng háo wú gēnjù, wánquán shì fěibàng.
  • English: The media's accusations are completely baseless and are pure slander.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how to refute an accusation. “毫无根据” (háo wú gēnjù) means “baseless” or “without any foundation,” a common phrase paired with 指控.
• Example 5:
  • 如果没有足够的证据，你不能随便指控别人。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu zúgòu de zhèngjù, nǐ bùnéng suíbiàn zhǐkòng biérén.
  • English: If you don't have enough evidence, you can't just casually accuse others.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the seriousness of making a 指控. “随便” (suíbiàn - casually, carelessly) emphasizes that this action should not be done lightly.
• Example 6:
  • 他面临着多项严重的指控。
  • Pinyin: Tā miànlínzhe duō xiàng yánzhòng de zhǐkòng.
  • English: He is facing multiple serious charges.
  • Analysis: “面临” (miànlín - to face) is often used with 指控 to describe the situation of the accused. “项” (xiàng) is a measure word for charges or items on a list.
• Example 7:
  • 针对这项指控，他选择了保持沉默。
  • Pinyin: Zhēnduì zhè xiàng zhǐkòng, tā xuǎnzéle bǎochí chénmò.
  • English: In response to this accusation, he chose to remain silent.
  • Analysis: “针对” (zhēnduì) means “regarding” or “in response to,” a formal way to introduce the subject. This phrasing is common in news reporting.
• Example 8:
  • 公司成立了独立委员会来调查这些指控。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī chénglìle dúlì wěiyuánhuì lái diàochá zhèxiē zhǐkòng.
  • English: The company established an independent committee to investigate these allegations.
  • Analysis: This shows 指控 used in a corporate context. An investigation (调查, diàochá) is the logical next step after a serious allegation is made.
• Example 9:
  • 他的竞争对手指控他在竞选中舞弊。
  • Pinyin: Tā de jìngzhēng duìshǒu zhǐkòng tā zài jìngxuǎn zhōng wǔbì.
  • English: His competitor accused him of cheating in the election.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 指控 in a political context. “舞弊” (wǔbì) is a formal term for “fraudulent practices” or “cheating,” which fits perfectly with 指控.
• Example 10:
  • 撤销指控需要检察官的批准。
  • Pinyin: Chèxiāo zhǐkòng xūyào jiǎncháguān de pīzhǔn.
  • English: Withdrawing the charges requires the prosecutor's approval.
  • Analysis: “撤销” (chèxiāo - to revoke, withdraw) is the verb for dropping charges. This sentence illustrates the official nature of a 指控—it can't be taken back informally.

• “指控” vs. “抱怨 (bàoyuàn)“: This is the most common mistake for learners. 指控 is a formal charge; 抱怨 (bàoyuàn) is a complaint or grumble.
  • Incorrect: 我指控我的邻居太吵了。 (Wǒ zhǐkòng wǒ de línjū tài chǎo le.)
  • Correct: 我抱怨我的邻居太吵了。 (Wǒ bàoyuàn wǒ de línjū tài chǎo le.) - “I complain that my neighbor is too loud.”
  • Reason: A noisy neighbor is an annoyance, not a formal crime. Using 指控 here sounds absurdly dramatic.
• “指控” vs. “指责 (zhǐzé)“: These are closer in meaning but differ in formality and context.
  • 指控 (zhǐkòng): A formal charge, often a crime or official rule-breaking. It is objective and procedural.
  • 指责 (zhǐzé): To blame or criticize, often for a moral or ethical failing. It's about pointing out fault and is more subjective.
  • Example: You would 指责 (zhǐzé) someone for being selfish, but you would 指控 (zhǐkòng) them for embezzlement.
• False Friend Alert: The English “to accuse” can be used very informally (“He accused me of being lazy”). 指控 (zhǐkòng) is almost never used this casually. For informal accusations, it's better to use verbs like 说 (shuō) or 怪 (guài).
  • Informal English: “She accused me of not doing the dishes.”
  • Natural Chinese: 她说我没洗碗 (Tā shuō wǒ méi xǐwǎn) or 她怪我没洗碗 (Tā guài wǒ méi xǐwǎn).
  • Using 指控 here would be incorrect.

• 控告 (kònggào) - To sue, to file a lawsuit. Very similar to 指控, but 控告 more strongly implies that a formal legal case has been initiated in court.
• 起诉 (qǐsù) - To prosecute, to indict. This is the official action taken by a prosecutor based on evidence related to the 指控. 起诉 is a step that follows a 指控.
• 罪名 (zuìmíng) - The name of the crime, the specific charge. A 指控 will include one or more 罪名. (e.g., The 指控 involves the 罪名 of murder.)
• 指责 (zhǐzé) - To criticize, to blame. A less formal, more moralistic term for calling someone out on their faults. Not necessarily a legal charge.
• 谴责 (qiǎnzé) - To condemn, to denounce. A strong form of public criticism, often on a moral or political level.
• 污蔑 (wūmiè) - To slander, to defame. This term implies that an accusation is intentionally false and malicious.
• 辩护 (biànhù) - To defend (in court). The action taken by a lawyer for someone who is facing a 指控.
• 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) - A suspect. The person who is the subject of the 指控.
• 证据 (zhèngjù) - Evidence. What is required to support a 指控 and secure a conviction.