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原告 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
原告yuángàocomplainantHSK 7, n, rank #6734, Hard
原告yuángàoplaintiffHSK 7, n, rank #6734, Hard
yuángào(yuan2gao4) T2
  1. 1complainant
  2. 2plaintiff
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March 24, 2026
原告yuángào(yuan2gao4)

原告 (yuángào) refers to the person who brings a case against another in a court of law, commonly known as the plaintiff. In legal contexts, this term is used to identify the party initiating a lawsuit, distinguishing them from the defendant, who is responding to the allegations.

Frequency#6734DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the legal system has historical roots that differ from Western practices, with a greater emphasis on mediation and resolution outside of court, making the role of the 原告 particularly significant in advocating for one's rights.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'yuan' (元) coin being tossed into a court to symbolize bringing a case forward. 'Gao' (告) sounds like 'gavel,' the tool used by judges, which helps you remember that the 原告 is the one presenting their case in court.

Meanings of 原告

yuángào(yuan2gao4)
1complainant
2plaintiff
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 原告

原告Simplified
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6734Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 原告

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Podcast: 原告

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AI Study Notes for 原告

Quick Contrast

被告 (bèigào) — use 原告 when referring to the party initiating the lawsuit, while 被告 refers to the party being accused.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'yuan' (元) coin being tossed into a court to symbolize bringing a case forward. 'Gao' (告) sounds like 'gavel,' the tool used by judges, which helps you remember that the 原告 is the one presenting their case in court.

Usage Notes

This term is primarily used in formal legal contexts. Learners should watch out for the tone of each character, as mispronouncing them can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include '原告权利' (plaintiff's rights) and '原告律师' (plaintiff's lawyer).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 原告 connects with legal vocabulary such as 被告 (defendant) and 诉讼 (lawsuit). Students should focus on understanding its use within legal phrases and contexts to build a comprehensive legal lexicon.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the legal system has historical roots that differ from Western practices, with a greater emphasis on mediation and resolution outside of court, making the role of the 原告 particularly significant in advocating for one's rights.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 原告 with 被告 (defendant). For example, saying '我是一名原告' (I am a defendant) is incorrect; it should be '我是一名原告' (I am a plaintiff).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 原告

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Component Characters

yuánformer
HSK 510 strokes
View full entry
gàoto tell
HSK 77 strokes
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Write 原告

Practice writing 原告 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 原告

原告 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

____和被告你来我往,互相指责。

The prosecution and defense were bandying accusations back and forth.

Example Sentences for 原告 (1)

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1
原告和被告你来我往,互相指责。

yuán gào hé bèi gào nǐ lái wǒ wǎng, , hù xiāng zhǐ。

The prosecution and defense were bandying accusations back and forth.

Cultural Notes for 原告

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the legal system has historical roots that differ from Western practices, with a greater emphasis on mediation and resolution outside of court, making the role of the 原告 particularly significant in advocating for one's rights.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The concept of a plaintiff (原告) is similar in Western legal systems, but the approach to litigation can differ significantly, with Western cultures often favoring adversarial proceedings compared to the more conciliatory methods in China.

Frequently Asked Questions about 原告

原告 refers to the plaintiff who initiates a lawsuit, while 被告 refers to the defendant who is being accused.