qǐsù: 起诉 - To Sue, To Prosecute

• Keywords: qisu, 起诉, sue in Chinese, prosecute in Chinese, file a lawsuit in Chinese, bring a suit, legal action China, Chinese legal terms, how to say sue in Mandarin, qǐsù meaning, qǐsù examples, sue vs prosecute.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese legal term 起诉 (qǐsù), which means to sue or prosecute. This page explains what `qǐsù` means, how to use it in formal legal contexts, and its cultural significance in modern China. Discover the difference between initiating a civil lawsuit (to sue) and a criminal case (to prosecute), and understand why taking this step is considered a very serious matter in Chinese culture. This is a must-know verb for understanding legal news, business disputes, or formal conflicts in the Mandarin-speaking world.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qǐ sù
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To formally initiate legal proceedings against a person or entity; to sue or prosecute.
• In a Nutshell: `起诉 (qǐsù)` is the official “start button” for a legal battle in the Chinese system. It's not a casual threat, but the formal, serious act of filing papers with a court to begin a lawsuit. Think of it as “raising a complaint” to the level of the judicial system. It's a heavy, formal word that signifies a conflict has moved beyond negotiation and into the courtroom.

• 起 (qǐ): This character's primary meaning is “to rise,” “to start,” or “to initiate.” It signifies the beginning of an action. Imagine something starting up from a resting state.
• 诉 (sù): This character means “to tell,” “to complain,” or “to accuse,” usually to a person in authority. The left-side radical `言 (yán)` means “speech,” directly linking this character to the act of speaking or making a statement.
• Together, 起诉 (qǐsù) literally translates to “to initiate an accusation” or “to start a complaint.” This combination perfectly captures the modern meaning of launching a formal legal case in court.

Historically, Chinese culture has prized social harmony (`和谐 - héxié`) and avoiding direct, public confrontation. Resolving disputes through mediation, leveraging personal relationships (`关系 - guānxi`), and preserving “face” (`面子 - miànzi`) for all parties was the preferred method. Therefore, deciding to `起诉 (qǐsù)` is a culturally significant and very serious step. It is often seen as a last resort, an admission that all other avenues for resolution have failed and that social harmony is irrevocably broken. This contrasts with some Western cultures, particularly the United States, where litigation can be more common and sometimes used as a negotiation tactic. In China, to `起诉` someone is to definitively sever a relationship and escalate a private dispute into the public, official realm. While China's legal system is robust and suing is now a common feature of modern society (especially in business), the underlying cultural view remains: it's a grave step that is not taken lightly.

`起诉` is a formal term used primarily in legal and official contexts. You will see it and hear it most often in the following situations:

• Civil Lawsuits: This is the most common usage for everyday people. It's the direct equivalent of “to sue.”
  • e.g., A customer sues a company, one business sues another for breach of contract, or a person sues another for defamation.
• Criminal Law: In this context, `起诉` means “to prosecute” or “to indict.” It's the action taken by the state's prosecutor (`检察院 - jiǎncháyuàn`) against a criminal suspect.
  • e.g., The state prosecutes a suspect for theft.
• Formal Threats: In a heated argument where serious damages are involved, someone might threaten, `我要起诉你！` (Wǒ yào qǐsù nǐ! - “I am going to sue you!”). This is a serious threat, not a casual remark.
• News and Media: News reports about legal cases will always use `起诉`.

The connotation of `起诉` is neutral from a purely legal standpoint, but in social contexts, it is serious and implies significant conflict.

• Example 1:
  • 她决定起诉她的前夫，要求分割财产。
  • Pinyin: Tā juédìng qǐsù tā de qiánfū, yāoqiú fēngē cáichǎn.
  • English: She decided to sue her ex-husband, demanding a division of assets.
  • Analysis: A classic example of `起诉` in a civil dispute (divorce). This is a formal action taken to resolve a personal matter through the legal system.
• Example 2:
  • 这家公司因侵犯知识产权而被起诉。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī yīn qīnfàn zhīshì chǎnquán ér bèi qǐsù.
  • English: This company was sued for intellectual property infringement.
  • Analysis: Here, `被 (bèi)` is used to create the passive voice, showing the company was the one being sued. This is a very common structure in news reports.
• Example 3:
  • 如果你们不退款，我们就要起诉你们公司。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐmen bù tuìkuǎn, wǒmen jiù yào qǐsù nǐmen gōngsī.
  • English: If you don't issue a refund, we are going to sue your company.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates `起诉` used as a serious, formal threat in a consumer or business dispute.
• Example 4:
  • 检察院已正式向法院起诉了犯罪嫌疑人。
  • Pinyin: Jiǎncháyuàn yǐ zhèngshì xiàng fǎyuàn qǐsù le fànzuì xiányírén.
  • English: The prosecutor's office has formally prosecuted the criminal suspect in court.
  • Analysis: This shows the usage of `起诉` in a criminal context, equivalent to “prosecute” or “indict.”
• Example 5:
  • 作为原告，你需要提供足够的证据来起诉被告。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yuángào, nǐ xūyào tígōng zúgòu de zhèngjù lái qǐsù bèigào.
  • English: As the plaintiff, you need to provide sufficient evidence to sue the defendant.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the related legal terms for plaintiff (`原告 - yuángào`) and defendant (`被告 - bèigào`).
• Example 6:
  • 他因诽谤罪被一位著名演员起诉。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīn fěibàng zuì bèi yī wèi zhùmíng yǎnyuán qǐsù.
  • English: He was sued by a famous actor for libel.
  • Analysis: Another example of the passive voice (`被…起诉`), this time in the context of defamation (`诽谤 - fěibàng`).
• Example 7:
  • 受害者家属联合起来起诉了那家化工厂。
  • Pinyin: Shòuhàizhě jiāshǔ liánhé qǐlái qǐsù le nà jiā huàgōngchǎng.
  • English: The victims' families joined together to sue that chemical plant.
  • Analysis: Shows how a group can take collective legal action. `联合起来 (liánhé qǐlái)` means “to unite” or “join together.”
• Example 8:
  • 在起诉之前，最好先咨询一下律师。
  • Pinyin: Zài qǐsù zhīqián, zuìhǎo xiān zīxún yīxià lǜshī.
  • English: Before filing a lawsuit, it's best to first consult a lawyer.
  • Analysis: This sentence gives practical advice and shows how `起诉` is used as a noun concept (“the act of suing”).
• Example 9:
  • 由于证据不足，法院驳回了起诉。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú zhèngjù bùzú, fǎyuàn bóhuíle qǐsù.
  • English: Due to insufficient evidence, the court dismissed the lawsuit.
  • Analysis: `驳回 (bóhuí)` means “to reject” or “to dismiss.” This shows a potential outcome of filing a suit.
• Example 10:
  • 你认为我们有理由起诉他们违约吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ rènwéi wǒmen yǒu lǐyóu qǐsù tāmen wéiyuē ma?
  • English: Do you think we have grounds to sue them for breach of contract?
  • Analysis: A practical question one might ask a lawyer or business partner. `违约 (wéiyuē)` is “to breach a contract.”

• `起诉 (qǐsù)` vs. `告 (gào)`: This is a key distinction. `告 (gào)` is a broader and often less formal term for “to accuse,” “to report,” or “to sue.” You can `告老师 (gào lǎoshī)` (tattle to the teacher) or `告到警察局 (gào dào jǐngchájú)` (report to the police station). While `告` can also mean sue (`打官司 (dǎ guānsī)` is a common colloquialism), `起诉 (qǐsù)` refers *specifically* to the formal, legal act of filing a lawsuit with the court. Using `起诉` for a minor complaint is incorrect.
  • Correct: 我要起诉这家公司。 (I want to sue this company.)
  • Incorrect: 我要起诉我弟弟，因为他吃了我的蛋糕。(I want to sue my little brother because he ate my cake.) → This is overkill. You would just `告` him to your parents.
• False Friend: “To Complain”: Do not confuse `起诉` with the general English word “to complain.” The Chinese word for a general complaint is `抱怨 (bàoyuàn)`.
  • Example of mistake: `我对这家餐厅的服务起诉。` (Incorrect)
  • Explanation: This sentence wrongly uses `起诉`. You are not filing a legal case. You are simply expressing dissatisfaction.
  • Correct: 我要抱怨一下这家餐厅的服务。(Wǒ yào bàoyuàn yīxià zhè jiā cāntīng de fúwù. - I want to complain about this restaurant's service.)

• 诉讼 (sùsòng) - The noun for “litigation” or “a lawsuit.” `起诉` is the verb that begins the `诉讼`.
• 告状 (gàozhuàng) - To tattle or complain to a higher authority, often used informally or for children. Much less serious than `起诉`.
• 原告 (yuángào) - The plaintiff; the party that initiates the lawsuit.
• 被告 (bèigào) - The defendant; the party being sued or prosecuted.
• 律师 (lǜshī) - Lawyer; the legal professional you hire to help you `起诉`.
• 法院 (fǎyuàn) - Court; the government institution where a lawsuit is filed and heard.
• 上诉 (shàngsù) - To appeal. If you lose a case, you can `上诉` to a higher court. (`上` means “up”).
• 撤诉 (chèsù) - To withdraw a lawsuit. (`撤` means “to withdraw” or “to retract”).
• 和解 (héjiě) - To settle (a dispute); to reach a settlement. This is often the goal before or during a `诉讼` to avoid a court judgment.