Meaning
错 is a fundamental word meaning 'wrong' or 'mistaken.' It describes something incorrect, faulty, or not right. As an adjective, it modifies nouns to indicate errors or mistakes. As a verb, it means 'to be wrong' or 'to make a mistake.' This character appears in countless everyday expressions related to mistakes and correctness.
Usage
Native speakers use 错 constantly in daily life. It appears in phrases like 错了 (cuò le, 'wrong' or 'made a mistake'), 不错 (bù cuò, 'not bad' or 'pretty good'), and 对不对 vs. 错不错 when checking correctness. It's neutral in register and appropriate for all contexts. When combined with other characters, it forms many common words related to errors and faults.
Examples
- 01你说错了，答案是B，不是A。, ' , .You got it wrong, the answer is B, not A.
- 02这家餐厅不错，我们下次再来吧。, .This restaurant is pretty good, let's come again next time.
Common collocations
- 错了wrong, made a mistake
- 不错not bad, pretty good
- 没错that's right, exactly
- 搞错to mess up, to get wrong
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 錯 contains the metal radical 金, originally referring to inlaid metalwork or mixed metals. The meaning evolved to include 'mixed up' and eventually 'mistaken' or 'wrong.'