gùzhàng: 故障 - Malfunction, Breakdown, Fault, Glitch

• Keywords: gùzhàng, 故障, Chinese for malfunction, Chinese for breakdown, Chinese for fault, car trouble in Chinese, computer glitch in Chinese, out of order in Chinese, 坏了 vs 故障, report a problem in Chinese.
• Summary: 故障 (gùzhàng) is the essential Chinese word for “malfunction,” “breakdown,” or “fault.” It's the standard term used for anything that stops working correctly, from a car engine to a computer program or an elevator. This guide will teach you the core meaning of 故障, how to use it in practical sentences to report issues like car trouble or a computer glitch, and clarify the important difference between 故障 (gùzhàng) and the more casual term “坏了 (huài le)”.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gùzhàng
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A malfunction, fault, or breakdown of a machine, system, or process.
• In a Nutshell: 故障 (gùzhàng) is the go-to technical and standard term for when something isn't working as it should. Think of it as the “official” word for a breakdown or glitch. While you might casually tell a friend your phone is “坏了 (huài le)” (broken), you would report a 故障 (gùzhàng) to a technician. It appears on warning signs and in formal reports, referring specifically to the state of being non-functional due to an internal problem.

• 故 (gù): This character often means “reason,” “cause,” or “old.” In this context, it takes on the meaning of an “incident” or an “unforeseen event.” It points to the specific occurrence of the problem.
• 障 (zhàng): This character means “obstacle,” “barrier,” or “hindrance.” It's composed of the “mound/hill” radical 阝(fù) on the left and 章 (zhāng) on the right. The visual idea is of a barrier blocking a path.

When combined, 故障 (gùzhàng) literally translates to an “incident-obstacle.” This paints a vivid picture of an event (故) that has created a blockage (障), preventing a machine or system from operating smoothly.

In a technologically advanced and rapidly developing China, the reliability of everything from high-speed rail to payment apps is a point of daily importance and national pride. The term 故障 (gùzhàng) is the vocabulary of this modern reality. It's precise, formal, and widely understood. Compared to English, where we might use a spectrum of words like “glitch,” “bug,” “hiccup,” “out of order,” or “on the fritz,” 故障 serves as a more formal and all-encompassing term. It carries a more serious and technical weight than a casual word like “glitch.” For instance, a sign on a broken ATM in the US might say “Out of Order.” In China, the sign would almost certainly use the more precise term 设备故障 (shèbèi gùzhàng), meaning “equipment malfunction.” Using this specific term reflects a cultural tendency towards precision and seriousness when identifying and addressing technical problems.

故障 is a highly practical word you will encounter frequently.

• Reporting Problems: This is its most common use. You use it when calling a mechanic, IT support, or a property manager to report a problem with your car, computer, or apartment facilities.
• Public Notices and Signs: You will see 故障 on signs attached to elevators, escalators, ticket vending machines, and ATMs to inform the public that they are out of service. Look for phrases like 维修中 (wéixiū zhōng) (under repair) nearby.
• Technical Language: It is the standard term in user manuals, technical reports, and any formal documentation related to engineering, IT, or mechanics.
• News Reports: The news uses 故障 to report on infrastructure issues, such as a 电力故障 (diànlì gùzhàng) (power failure) or a 信号故障 (xìnhào gùzhàng) (signal failure) on a railway line.

Its connotation is neutral and its formality is standard to formal. It is less conversational than saying something “has a problem” (有问题 - yǒu wèntí) or is “broken” (坏了 - huài le).

• Example 1:
  • 电梯出故障了，我们走楼梯吧。
  • Pinyin: Diàntī chū gùzhàng le, wǒmen zǒu lóutī ba.
  • English: The elevator has malfunctioned, let's take the stairs.
  • Analysis: “出故障了 (chū gùzhàng le)” is a very common pattern, meaning “a malfunction has occurred.” This is a perfect, everyday example.
• Example 2:
  • 我的车在高速公路上发生了故障。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de chē zài gāosù gōnglù shàng fāshēngle gùzhàng.
  • English: My car had a breakdown on the highway.
  • Analysis: “发生故障 (fāshēng gùzhàng)” means “a breakdown occurred.” It's slightly more formal than “出故障” and is often used in more serious situations or reports.
• Example 3:
  • 电脑好像有故障，总是自动重启。
  • Pinyin: Diànnǎo hǎoxiàng yǒu gùzhàng, zǒngshì zìdòng chóngqǐ.
  • English: It seems like the computer has a fault, it's always restarting automatically.
  • Analysis: The structure “有故障 (yǒu gùzhàng)” - to have a fault - is another common way to express this. “好像 (hǎoxiàng)” means “seems like,” softening the statement.
• Example 4:
  • 这台打印机经常故障，我们应该换一台新的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái dǎyìnjī jīngcháng gùzhàng, wǒmen yīnggāi huàn yī tái xīn de.
  • English: This printer often malfunctions, we should get a new one.
  • Analysis: Here, 故障 is used as a verb meaning “to malfunction.” This is common when describing a recurring issue.
• Example 5:
  • （在公共场所看到的标志）设备故障，暂停服务。
  • Pinyin: (Zài gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ kàndào de biāozhì) Shèbèi gùzhàng, zàntíng fúwù.
  • English: (Sign seen in a public place) Equipment Malfunction, Service Suspended.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of 故障 used in public signage. 设备 (shèbèi) means “equipment.”
• Example 6:
  • 技术人员正在排查网络故障的原因。
  • Pinyin: Jìshù rényuán zhèngzài páichá wǎngluò gùzhàng de yuányīn.
  • English: The technicians are troubleshooting the cause of the network fault.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows 故障 used in a professional IT context. 排查 (páichá) means “to troubleshoot” or “to investigate.”
• Example 7:
  • 由于信号故障，所有列车都晚点了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú xìnhào gùzhàng, suǒyǒu lièchē dōu wǎndiǎn le.
  • English: Due to a signal malfunction, all trains have been delayed.
  • Analysis: A common phrase you might hear in a train station announcement in China.
• Example 8:
  • 如果系统出现故障，请立即联系我们。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ xìtǒng chūxiàn gùzhàng, qǐng lìjí liánxì wǒmen.
  • English: If the system experiences a malfunction, please contact us immediately.
  • Analysis: “出现故障 (chūxiàn gùzhàng)” is a formal way to say “a malfunction appears/occurs,” often used in instructions or official communications.
• Example 9:
  • 空调的故障代码是E4，这是什么意思？
  • Pinyin: Kōngtiáo de gùzhàng dàimǎ shì E4, zhè shì shénme yìsi?
  • English: The air conditioner's fault code is E4, what does this mean?
  • Analysis: This shows how 故障 can be used as an adjective to modify another noun, like 故障代码 (gùzhàng dàimǎ) or “fault code.”
• Example 10:
  • 我们必须找出导致机器故障的根本问题。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū zhǎochū dǎozhì jīqì gùzhàng de gēnběn wèntí.
  • English: We must find the root problem that is causing the machine to malfunction.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates 故障 as a verb within a more complex sentence structure, “导致…故障” (dǎozhì…gùzhàng) meaning “to lead to…a malfunction.”

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 故障 (gùzhàng) and 坏了 (huài le).

• 故障 (gùzhàng): Formal, technical. Refers to a functional failure. The item is not working correctly. It is almost exclusively used for machines, equipment, and systems.
• 坏了 (huài le): Colloquial, general. Means “broken” or “spoiled.” It can refer to a functional failure (my watch is broken) or physical damage (the cup is broken). It can also be used for food that has gone bad.

Key Rule: If you can see physical damage, use 坏了 (huài le). If a machine simply stops working, you can often use either, but 故障 (gùzhàng) is more precise and appropriate in formal or technical contexts. Incorrect Usage Example:

• Incorrect: 我的腿故障了。 (Wǒ de tuǐ gùzhàng le.)
• Why it's wrong: 故障 is for machines, not people or body parts. This sounds robotic and unnatural.
• Correct: 我的腿受伤了 (Wǒ de tuǐ shòushāng le - My leg is injured) or 我的腿很疼 (Wǒ de tuǐ hěn téng - My leg hurts a lot).

Incorrect Usage Example 2:

• Incorrect: 这个苹果故障了。(Zhège píngguǒ gùzhàng le.)
• Why it's wrong: Food doesn't have “malfunctions.”
• Correct: 这个苹果坏了。(Zhège píngguǒ huài le. - This apple has gone bad.)

• 坏了 (huài le) - The common, everyday word for “broken” or “not working.” Less formal than 故障.
• 问题 (wèntí) - The general word for “problem” or “question.” Saying a machine “有问题” (yǒu wèntí) is a very common, slightly less technical way to say it has a fault.
• 失灵 (shīlíng) - To lose function, to fail. Often used for specific controls like brakes (刹车失灵 - shāchē shīlíng) or a compass. It implies a loss of sensitivity or control.
• 毛病 (máobìng) - A “problem,” “glitch,” “defect,” or “shortcoming.” It's more colloquial and can refer to a small, recurring issue (小毛病 - xiǎo máobìng) in a machine or even a person's bad habit.
• 维修 (wéixiū) - To maintain and repair. This is the action taken to fix a 故障.
• 排查 (páichá) - To troubleshoot; to investigate and eliminate (a problem). This is the process of finding the cause of a 故障.
• 崩溃 (bēngkuì) - To collapse or crash (for a system or software). It can also describe an emotional breakdown. A system crash is a very severe type of 故障.
• 死机 (sǐjī) - “To freeze” (for a computer or phone). Literally “dead machine.” A very specific and common type of computer 故障.