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变故 (biàn gù) — an unforeseen event; misfortune

Definition

变故 is a written noun for a sudden misfortune or setback, often a life-changing one. Stronger and more literary than 意外; broader than 事故 (which implies a physical accident).

noun
an unforeseen eventmisfortune

Examples

  • 变故，。
    Jiā lǐ tū rán fā shēng le biàn gù, tā lì kè gǎn huí le jiā.
    An unforeseen event suddenly happened at home, and he immediately rushed back.
  • 变故。
    Zhè chǎng biàn gù ràng tā yí yè zhī jiān shī qù le suǒ yǒu.
    This misfortune made him lose everything overnight.
  • 变故，。
    Miàn duì rén shēng zhōng de biàn gù, wǒ men yào jiān qiáng.
    Facing the misfortunes in life, we must be strong we must be.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 變; 变 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
䜌
䜌䜌變biàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 變 uses 䜌 as a sound part and 攴 as a meaning part.

Open 变 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ故gù
Same sound today

故 uses 古 for the sound and 攵, written in full as 攴, for the meaning.

Open 故 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract ConceptsChange & Process

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