故障 (gù zhàng) — malfunction, breakdown, fault (of machines, systems, software)

Definition

故障 means a technical malfunction — a machine, system, or software has broken or failed. Unlike 缺点 or 毛病 (general flaws, including of people), 故障 is used only for equipment and tech.

noun
malfunctionbreakdownfault (of machines, systems, software)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 故障。
    Fēi jī qǐ fēi qián fā xiàn le yí gè yǐn qíng gù zhàng.
    A malfunction was found in one of the engines before takeoff.
  • 故障，。
    Zhè ge chéng xù yǒu gù zhàng, xū yào gēng xīn yí xià.
    This program has a bug; it needs an update.
  • 故障，。
    Diàn tī fā shēng le gù zhàng, wéi xiū rén yuán zhèng zài gǎn lái.
    The elevator broke down, and maintenance staff are on their way.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

故gùfault
障zhàngobstacle

故 (fault) and 障 (obstacle) together name a fault or obstacle.

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.

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 →

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
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
章
章zhāng障zhàng
Same sound today

The left part 阝, written in full as 阜, sits beside 章, which supplies the sound.

Open 障 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Technology & Engineering5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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