肇事 (zhào shì) — to cause an accident or incident (especially traffic); to cause a disturbance, to provoke an incident

Definition

Used mostly in formal/written reports about someone causing a traffic accident or a public disturbance — almost always used with a negative event (肇事者, 肇事现场). It is more formal and legalistic than everyday verbs like 造成.

verb
to cause an accident or incident (especially traffic)to cause a disturbanceto provoke an incident

Examples

  • 肇事
    Nà liàng kǎ chē zài zhuǎn wān shí zhào shì, zhuàng dǎo le yì kē shù.
    That truck caused an accident while turning and knocked down a tree.
  • 肇事
    Zhè jiā gōng chǎng wéi guī cāo zuò zhào shì, dǎo zhì duō rén shòu shāng.
    This factory violated procedures and caused an accident, resulting in multiple injuries.
  • 肇事
    Jǐ gè zuì hàn zài jiǔ bā lǐ zhào shì, yǐn qǐ le hùn luàn.
    Several drunk men caused a disturbance in the bar, creating chaos.

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