sou3 zung6訴訟诉讼
Jyutpingsou3 zung6
Yalesou juhng
Definition
Lawsuit, litigation, or legal action.
neutralwork
How it's used
訴訟 is the formal, legal term used in contracts or news reports, whereas 官司 is the standard word used in everyday speech. When people talk about being involved in legal proceedings, they almost always use the verb phrase 打官司 instead of the formal 進行訴訟. Using 訴訟 in casual conversation can sound overly stiff or like you are reading from a legal document.
Measure word
coeng4場chèunghRelated words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 訴訟 as a verb, but it is strictly a noun. You must pair it with a verb like 進行 or 提出, or simply switch to the more natural colloquial verb phrase 打官司.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
