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打官司 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
打官司dǎguānsito file a lawsuitHSK 6, l, rank #9458, Hard
打官司dǎguānsito sueHSK 6, l, rank #9458, Hard
打官司dǎguānsito disputeHSK 6, l, rank #9458, Hard
dǎguānsi(da3guan1si5) T3
  1. 1to file a lawsuit
  2. 2to sue
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March 24, 2026
打官司dǎguānsi(da3guan1si5)

打官司 (dǎ guān sī) refers to the act of filing a lawsuit or engaging in legal disputes. It is commonly used in contexts involving legal actions, where one party seeks justice or compensation from another. The term can also imply a broader sense of disputing or contesting an issue, often in a formal legal setting.

Frequency#9458DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, legal disputes are often viewed with caution, as seeking legal recourse can be seen as a last resort. This reflects the importance of harmony and resolution through negotiation in traditional Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person '打' (da3 - to hit) a gavel in a courtroom, initiating a '官司' (guan1 si5 - lawsuit) as they fight for justice. The '打' action symbolizes the initiation of a legal battle, while '官司' reminds you of the official nature of court proceedings.

Meanings of 打官司

dǎguānsi(da3guan1si5)
1to file a lawsuit
2to sue
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About 打官司

打官司Simplified
Strokes
Radical
习用语phrase (phr.)Part of Speech
#9458Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 打官司

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Podcast: 打官司

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AI Study Notes for 打官司

Quick Contrast

诉讼 (sùlòng) vs 打官司 (dǎguānsi): 诉讼 is a more formal term specifically referring to the legal process of litigation, while 打官司 is a colloquial expression emphasizing the action of engaging in a lawsuit.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person '打' (da3 - to hit) a gavel in a courtroom, initiating a '官司' (guan1 si5 - lawsuit) as they fight for justice. The '打' action symbolizes the initiation of a legal battle, while '官司' reminds you of the official nature of court proceedings.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 打官司 with similar terms like 诉讼 (sùsòng - litigation). It is important to use 打官司 in informal contexts, while 诉讼 is more formal. Be mindful of the tones: 打 is third tone, 官 is first tone, and 司 is fifth tone.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 打官司 connects to other legal vocabulary. Students should focus on understanding related terms like 诉讼 (sùsòng) and 法律 (fǎlǜ - law) to build a comprehensive legal vocabulary. Practice using it in sentences about legal scenarios.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, legal disputes are often viewed with caution, as seeking legal recourse can be seen as a last resort. This reflects the importance of harmony and resolution through negotiation in traditional Chinese society.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mistakenly use 打官司 to describe non-legal disputes, such as personal arguments. For example, saying '我和朋友打官司' (I have a lawsuit with my friend) is incorrect; it should be '我和朋友争论' (I argue with my friend).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 打官司

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Component Characters

to beat
HSK 25 strokes
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guānofficial
HSK 68 strokes
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to take charge of
HSK 35 strokes
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Write 打官司

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

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Grammar Patterns of 打官司

打官司 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

于是,他去____赢回了他的工作。

So he went and filed a suit and won his job back.

Example Sentences for 打官司 (2)

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1
于是,他去打官司赢回了他的工作。

yú shì, , tā qù dǎ guān sī yíng huí le tā de gōng。

So he went and filed a suit and won his job back.
2
打官司费钱耗时而且给人添堵,所以最好能避则避。

dǎ guān sī fèi qián hào shí ér qiě gěi rén tiān dǔ, , suǒ yǐ zuì hǎo néng bì zé。

Going to court can be an expensive, time consuming and gut wrenching experience that is best avoided.

Cultural Notes for 打官司

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, legal disputes are often viewed with caution, as seeking legal recourse can be seen as a last resort. This reflects the importance of harmony and resolution through negotiation in traditional Chinese society.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, lawsuits are often more commonplace and accepted as a means to resolve disputes, whereas in China, they may be approached with reluctance due to cultural values emphasizing harmony.

Frequently Asked Questions about 打官司

Use 打官司 for informal contexts or to describe the act of suing someone, while 诉讼 is more suitable for formal legal discussions.