guòshī: 过失 - Fault, Negligence, Culpable Error

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• Summary: Learn the meaning of a key Chinese term, guòshī (过失), which translates to fault, negligence, or culpable error. This is not just a simple mistake; it's an error with serious consequences, often used in legal, medical, and formal business contexts. This page explores its specific meaning, how it differs from a general mistake like 错误 (cuòwù), and how understanding guòshī reveals the cultural weight placed on responsibility and accountability in Chinese society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guòshī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: A fault, error, or lapse, especially one that implies negligence or legal culpability.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `过失` as a “blameworthy mistake.” It's not an “oops, I forgot the milk” kind of error. It's a failure to exercise the proper care or duty that results in a negative outcome. The key feeling is that the person should have known better or should have been more careful. It carries a heavy weight of responsibility and is often used when discussing serious accidents, professional malpractice, or significant business failures.

• 过 (guò): This character's original meaning is “to pass” or “to cross.” By extension, it also means to go beyond a limit or standard, which leads to the meaning of “transgression,” “fault,” or “error.”
• 失 (shī): This character means “to lose,” “to miss,” or “to fail.” It implies a failure to achieve a goal or maintain a standard.
• When combined, 过失 (guòshī) literally translates to a “transgression (过) through failure/loss (失).” This perfectly captures the modern meaning: a fault that occurs because of a failure of duty, a loss of attention, or a lapse in judgment—in other words, negligence.

• Responsibility over Intention: `过失` places a strong emphasis on the outcome and the failure of one's duty, rather than just the intention. In many Western cultures, saying “I didn't mean to” can significantly mitigate blame for a mistake. While intention matters in Chinese culture too, admitting a `过失` is a formal acknowledgment that your lack of care caused a problem, and you are accountable for that consequence, regardless of your intent.
• Comparison to “Negligence”: The closest Western concept is the legal term “negligence.” Just as there's a legal difference between a “mistake” and “negligence” in the West, there is a significant social and legal difference between a simple 错误 (cuòwù) and a `过失` in China. To call something a `过失` elevates it from a simple error to a serious, culpable failure. It's a term used to assign formal blame and demand accountability, whether in a courtroom, a hospital, or a boardroom. This reflects a cultural value where fulfilling one's responsibilities and duties is paramount to maintaining social and professional order.

• Legal and Formal Settings: This is the most common context for `过失`. You will see it constantly in legal documents, news reports about accidents, and official company apologies.
  • `过失杀人 (guòshī shārén)` - Manslaughter (literally “killing by negligence”)
  • `医疗过失 (yīliáo guòshī)` - Medical malpractice
  • `重大过失 (zhòngdà guòshī)` - Gross negligence
• Business and Workplace: In a professional setting, admitting a `过失` is a very serious step. It's used for errors that cost the company money, damage its reputation, or compromise safety. A manager might say, “这次的损失是我的过失” (“This loss was my fault/negligence”) to formally accept full responsibility.
• Informal Conversation: You will almost never hear `过失` used for everyday mistakes. It would sound overly dramatic and strange to say you had a `过失` because you burned the toast or forgot a friend's birthday. For those situations, you would use 错误 (cuòwù), 失误 (shīwù), or simply say `对不起，我忘了` (duìbuqǐ, wǒ wàng le).

• Example 1:
  • 他因过失杀人罪被判了五年。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīn guòshī shārén zuì bèi pànle wǔ nián.
  • English: He was sentenced to five years for the crime of manslaughter by negligence.
  • Analysis: This is a classic legal use of the term. It specifies that the killing was not intentional but was the result of a culpable failure to exercise care.
• Example 2:
  • 这家医院因为严重的医疗过失而被告上法庭。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā yīyuàn yīnwèi yánzhòng de yīliáo guòshī ér bèi gào shàng fǎtíng.
  • English: This hospital was sued for serious medical malpractice.
  • Analysis: Here, `医疗过失` is a set phrase for “medical malpractice,” highlighting a professional failure of duty.
• Example 3:
  • 在这份重要的合同上出现拼写错误，是我的过失。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhè fèn zhòngyào de hétóng shàng chūxiàn pīnxiě cuòwù, shì wǒ de guòshī.
  • English: The appearance of a typo in this important contract is my fault/negligence.
  • Analysis: While a typo might seem small, in an “important contract” it constitutes a serious lapse in professional duty. Using `过失` shows the speaker is taking full, formal responsibility.
• Example 4:
  • 公司承认，这次数据泄露是由内部管理的过失造成的。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī chéngrèn, zhè cì shùjù xièlòu shì yóu nèibù guǎnlǐ de guòshī zàochéng de.
  • English: The company admitted that this data breach was caused by a fault in internal management.
  • Analysis: This is a formal, public relations-style statement. `过失` is used to officially acknowledge a failure in their system or process.
• Example 5:
  • 这只是一个小的技术失误，算不上是过失。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǐshì yígè xiǎo de jìshù shīwù, suàn bu shàng shì guòshī.
  • English: This was just a small technical slip-up; you can't consider it negligence.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the distinction. The speaker is downplaying the severity of the error, contrasting a minor `失误` (slip-up) with the much more serious `过失` (negligence).
• Example 6:
  • 我为我的过失向您表示最诚挚的歉意。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wèi wǒ de guòshī xiàng nín biǎoshì zuì chéngzhì de qiànyì.
  • English: I express my sincerest apologies to you for my fault/negligence.
  • Analysis: This is a very formal and serious apology. Using `过失` indicates the speaker understands the gravity of their mistake and its consequences.
• Example 7:
  • 由于驾驶员的过失，火车出轨了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú jiàshǐyuán de guòshī, huǒchē chūguǐ le.
  • English: The train derailed due to the driver's negligence.
  • Analysis: This is a typical way news reports would describe the cause of an accident, assigning blame in a formal, factual way.
• Example 8:
  • 他最大的过失就是太相信一个不值得信任的人。
  • Pinyin: Tā zuìdà de guòshī jiùshì tài xiāngxìn yígè bù zhídé xìnrèn de rén.
  • English: His greatest fault was trusting someone who wasn't worthy of trust.
  • Analysis: This example is more philosophical. It frames a major life mistake—a serious error in judgment with severe consequences—as a `过失`.
• Example 9:
  • 尽管是无意的过失，他还是承担了全部责任。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn shì wúyì de guòshī, tā háishì chéngdānle quánbù zérèn.
  • English: Although it was an unintentional fault, he still bore full responsibility.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the nuance that a `过失` is typically unintentional (unlike a `故意` act), but still requires the person to take responsibility (`承担责任`).
• Example 10:
  • 审计员发现了财务报告中的几处重大过失。
  • Pinyin: Shěnjìyuán fāxiànle cáiwù bàogào zhōng de jǐ chù zhòngdà guòshī.
  • English: The auditor discovered several instances of gross negligence in the financial report.
  • Analysis: `重大过失` (zhòngdà guòshī) is a common collocation meaning “gross negligence” or “major fault,” indicating a severe level of failure.

• `过失 (guòshī)` vs. `错误 (cuòwù)` vs. `失误 (shīwù)`: This is the most critical distinction for a learner.
  • 过失 (guòshī): Serious, culpable fault due to negligence. Implies responsibility for negative consequences. (e.g., A surgeon leaving a tool inside a patient.)
  • 错误 (cuòwù): A general “mistake” or “error.” It can be factual, grammatical, or a poor decision. It is the most neutral and common term. (e.g., You made a calculation error.)
  • 失误 (shīwù): A slip-up or error in performance/execution. It focuses on the action itself going wrong. (e.g., A basketball player missing an easy shot.)
• False Friend: “Fault”

In English, “fault” can be used very casually (“It's my fault we're late”). `过失` is never used this casually. It always implies a serious context where a duty of care was breached. Think “negligence” or “culpable error” to avoid misusing it.

• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Incorrect: `对不起，我把你的名字写错了，这是我的过失。` (Duìbuqǐ, wǒ bǎ nǐ de míngzì xiě cuòle, zhè shì wǒ de guòshī.)
  • Reason: Spelling someone's name wrong is a simple mistake, not negligence. Using `过失` is far too dramatic and formal.
  • Correct: `对不起，我把你的名字写错了，这是我的错误。` (…zhè shì wǒ de cuòwù.) or more naturally, `…是我的错。` (…shì wǒ de cuò.)

• 错误 (cuòwù) - The general, neutral term for “mistake” or “error.” `过失` is a specific, more serious type of `错误`.
• 失误 (shīwù) - An error in execution, a slip-up, a lapse. It's less about moral or legal blame and more about a failed action.
• 过错 (guòcuò) - Fault, wrongdoing. Very similar to `过失`, but can carry a stronger sense of moral, rather than just procedural, blame.
• 疏忽 (shūhu) - Carelessness, negligence, an oversight. A close synonym that emphasizes the lack of attention that led to the fault.
• 责任 (zérèn) - Responsibility, duty. A `过失` always entails a failure of `责任`, and a discussion of who should `承担责任` (bear responsibility).
• 故意 (gùyì) - On purpose, intentionally. This is the direct antonym to the concept of `过失`, which is by definition unintentional. An intentional harmful act is not a `过失`.
• 医疗过失 (yīliáo guòshī) - A set phrase for “medical malpractice.”
• 过失杀人 (guòshī shārén) - A set legal phrase for “manslaughter by negligence.”
• 承担 (chéngdān) - To bear, undertake, or assume (e.g., `承担责任`, to assume responsibility). This verb is frequently used in discussions following a `过失`.