错

錯

cuò

昔 + 钅

HSK 2.0Level 2

HSK 3.0Level 2

Definitions

cuò (adjective) wrong; incorrect; mistaken

cuò (noun) mistake; error

cuò (verb) to miss; to let slip

cuò (verb) to interlock; to alternate

Etymology

Simplified form of 錯. Phonosemantic compound. 金 represents the meaning and 昔 represents the sound. The character is based on the original meaning "grind stone", which later shifted to "mix", "be in disorder", and "wrong".

About

错 is the simplified form of 錯, a phono-semantic compound that combines the metal radical 金 (simplified to 钅 on the left) with the phonetic component 昔. The character originally referred to a grindstone used for polishing jade. It also denoted the decorative technique of inlaying gold and silver into other metals, a process that required interlocking and alternating the pieces. This intertwining gave rise to the extended senses of "mix" and "disorder", and from there the meaning shifted to the modern sense of "wrong" or "mistake".

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是我的错。

Zhè shì wǒ de cuò.

This is my mistake.

你完全错了。

Nǐ wánquán cuò le.

You are completely wrong.

我犯了一个错误。

Wǒ fànle yīgè cuòwù.

I made a mistake.

不要错过这班车。

Bùyào cuòguò zhè bān chē.

Don't miss this bus.

这个决定是错的。

Zhège juédìng shì cuò de.

This decision is wrong.

他错过了最后的航班。

Tā cuòguòle zuìhòu de hángbān.

He missed the last flight.

如果我们错了，请纠正我们。

Rúguǒ wǒmen cuò le, qǐng jiūzhèng wǒmen.

If we are wrong, please correct us.

错误的信息会导致严重的后果。

Cuòwù de xìnxī huì dǎozhì yánzhòng de hòuguǒ.

Wrong information can lead to serious consequences.

Related Characters

Component: 昔

Component: 钅

错