Definition
控告 (kònggào) is a formal legal verb meaning 'to accuse / to charge' someone, usually in a court or official context. It is similar to 起诉 (qǐsù 'to sue, prosecute') but 起诉 focuses on initiating a lawsuit in court, while 控告 can also be used for broader formal accusations. 指控 (zhǐkòng) is close but often for criminal charges, and 告状 (gàozhuàng) is the colloquial word for 'telling on' someone or complaining to a superior — less formal than 控告.
verb
to accuseto chargeto indict
Examples
- 控告。Tā bèi kòng gào tōuqiè.He was accused of theft.
- 控告。Tā kòng gào línjū sāorǎo tā.She accused her neighbor of harassing her.
- 控告。Gōngsī kòng gào jìngzhēng duìshǒu qīnfàn zhuānlì.The company sued its competitor for patent infringement.
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