Meaning of 故障
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- malfunction
- breakdown
- defect
- shortcoming
- fault
- failure
- impediment
- error
How to use 故障
故障 is used for machines, systems and equipment that stop working properly. It often pairs with verbs like 出 (chū), 发生 (fāshēng) and 排除 (páichú, to fix or clear). Example: 电梯出故障了。(Diàntī chū gùzhàng le.) The elevator has broken down.
故 (gù) appears in 事故 (shìgù, accident), and 障 (zhàng) means a barrier, as in 障碍 (zhàng'ài). Picture a little accident that puts a barrier in the way, so the machine stops working.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 故障 with 事故 (shìgù). 故障 is a fault or breakdown in a device, while 事故 is an accident such as a car crash. Also note that 障 is fourth tone, zhàng, not zhāng like 章.
故障 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
故 gù · happening · 9 strokes
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障 zhàng · to separate · 13 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 故障.
| 故事 | gùshi | old practice |
| 故意 | gùyì | deliberately; on purpose |
| 事故 | shìgù | accident |
| 故乡 | gùxiāng | home; homeland |
| 障碍 | zhàng'ài | barrier; obstruction |
| 缘故 | yuángù | reason; cause |
| 保障 | bǎozhàng | to ensure; to guarantee |
| 无故 | wúgù | without cause or reason |
| 世故 | shìgu | the ways of the world |
| 路障 | lùzhàng | roadblock; barricade |
| 无缘无故 | wúyuánwúgù | (idiom) no cause or reason; completely uncalled for |
| 已故 | yǐgù | the late; deceased |
Questions about 故障
What does 故障 mean?
故障 (gùzhàng) means "malfunction; breakdown" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 故障?
故障 is made of 2 characters: 故 (9 strokes), 障 (13 strokes). That is 22 strokes in total.
Is 故障 an HSK word?
Yes. 故障 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can 故障 be used as a verb?
Not usually. It works as a noun, so you say 出故障 (chū gùzhàng) or 有故障 (yǒu gùzhàng) rather than using 故障 alone as the verb. To say something broke, you can also use 坏了 (huài le).
Is 故障 used for people or only for machines?
It is mainly used for machines, vehicles, computers and systems. For a person's faults or shortcomings, words like 缺点 (quēdiǎn) are more natural in everyday speech.