错误 (cuòwù)

错误 refers to a mistake or error, or describes something as wrong or incorrect.

Meanings

[noun] mistake; error; fault
[adjective] wrong; incorrect; mistaken

Example Sentences

我犯了一个很严重的错误。 Wǒ fàn le yīgè hěn yánzhòng de cuòwù. I made a very serious mistake.

承认错误是改正的第一步。 Chéngrèn cuòwù shì gǎizhèng de dì yī bù. Admitting a mistake is the first step to correcting it.

这个决定是完全错误的。 Zhège juédìng shì wánquán cuòwù de. This decision is completely wrong.

我们要从错误中吸取教训。 Wǒmen yào cóng cuòwù zhōng xīqǔ jiàoxun. We need to learn lessons from our mistakes.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
犯错误 (fàn cuòwù)	to make a mistake
承认错误 (chéngrèn cuòwù)	to admit a mistake
纠正错误 (jiūzhèng cuòwù)	to correct a mistake
严重错误 (yánzhòng cuòwù)	serious mistake

Usage Notes

错误 is the formal noun for "mistake" or "error." In informal speech, 错 (cuò) alone is often used predicatively: 你错了 (you are wrong). The phrase 犯错误 (to commit an error) is very common in both spoken and written Chinese. 错误 contrasts with 正确 (zhèngquè, correct) as its direct antonym.

Memory Hook

错 (wrong/crossed) + 误 (to mislead/miss) — when things get crossed and you miss the mark, that is an error.