sùsòng: 诉讼 - Lawsuit, Litigation, Legal Action

• Keywords: 诉讼, susong, Chinese for lawsuit, litigation in China, legal action in Chinese, file a lawsuit in Chinese, sue in Chinese, Chinese legal system, civil lawsuit, criminal proceedings, Chinese law.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 诉讼 (sùsòng), the formal Chinese term for “lawsuit” or “litigation.” This comprehensive guide explores its character origins, its cultural significance in a society that traditionally valued harmony over conflict, and its practical use in modern China's legal system. Learn key vocabulary for civil and criminal cases, how to form correct sentences, and how to avoid common mistakes, making this an essential resource for understanding legal matters in the Chinese context.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): sùsòng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: The formal process of taking legal action in a court of law; a lawsuit or litigation.
• In a Nutshell: 诉讼 (sùsòng) is the official, heavyweight term for a legal battle. You won't hear it used in casual arguments. Think of it as the formal machinery of the justice system kicking into gear—involving courts, judges, lawyers, and official documents. It signifies a serious dispute that could not be resolved through informal means like negotiation or mediation, and has now entered the public, legal arena for a formal judgment.

• 诉 (sù): This character is about making a claim or an accusation. It's composed of the “speech” radical 言 (yán) on the left, and 斥 (chì) on the right. This combination powerfully suggests using words (言) to state a complaint or grievance, often to an authority figure.
• 讼 (sòng): This character means to argue a case publicly. It also uses the “speech” radical 言 (yán), but pairs it with 公 (gōng), which means “public.” The image is one of a public debate or argument (言) to be settled in a fair, open forum (公).

Together, 诉讼 (sùsòng) literally means a “public, speech-based accusation,” perfectly capturing the essence of a formal lawsuit argued in a court of law.

Historically, Chinese culture, heavily influenced by Confucian values, has viewed 诉讼 (sùsòng) as a last and undesirable resort. The ideal was to maintain social harmony (和谐, héxié) and preserve relationships (关系, guānxi). Taking someone to court was often seen as a public admission of failure to resolve a dispute privately, causing a loss of “face” (面子, miànzi) for everyone involved. Mediation, handled by community elders or local officials, was the preferred method. This contrasts sharply with a more litigious culture like that of the United States, where suing is often seen as a standard and primary tool for defending one's rights. While this is changing rapidly in China, the traditional cultural preference for 和解 (héjiě), or out-of-court settlement, remains strong. However, in modern China, with its booming economy and increasingly complex legal system, citizens and companies are more willing than ever to engage in 诉讼 to protect their interests, especially in areas like intellectual property, contract disputes, and consumer rights. While the cultural echo of avoiding conflict persists, using the legal system is no longer as stigmatized as it once was.

诉讼 (sùsòng) is a formal noun used primarily in legal, official, and news contexts. You will rarely use it in casual conversation unless you are specifically discussing a legal case. It is often paired with verbs to describe an action related to a lawsuit:

• 提起诉讼 (tíqǐ sùsòng): to file/initiate a lawsuit
• 进行诉讼 (jìnxíng sùsòng): to carry on/be engaged in litigation
• 赢得诉讼 (yíngdé sùsòng): to win a lawsuit
• 输掉诉讼 (shūdiào sùsòng): to lose a lawsuit

It's also used to specify the type of legal action:

• 民事诉讼 (mínshì sùsòng): A civil lawsuit (e.g., contract disputes, divorce).
• 刑事诉讼 (xíngshì sùsòng): Criminal proceedings/prosecution (initiated by the state).
• 行政诉讼 (xíngzhèng sùsòng): An administrative lawsuit (suing a government body).

The term carries a neutral-to-serious connotation. It simply describes the legal process, but the context is inherently one of conflict and trouble.

• Example 1:
  • 他们决定通过诉讼来解决这个合同纠纷。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen juédìng tōngguò sùsòng lái jiějué zhège hétong jiūfēn.
  • English: They decided to resolve this contract dispute through litigation.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, formal use of 诉讼 as the method for resolving a business dispute.
• Example 2:
  • 这家公司对侵犯其专利权的行为提起了诉讼。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī duì qīnfàn qí zhuānlìquán de xíngwéi tíqǐle sùsòng.
  • English: This company filed a lawsuit against the act of infringing on its patent rights.
  • Analysis: The phrase 提起诉讼 (tíqǐ sùsòng) is a very common and formal way to say “to file a lawsuit.”
• Example 3:
  • 诉讼的费用可能会非常高。
  • Pinyin: Sùsòng de fèiyòng kěnéng huì fēicháng gāo.
  • English: The costs of a lawsuit can be very high.
  • Analysis: Here, 诉讼 is the subject of the sentence, referring to the entire process of litigation.
• Example 4:
  • 经过漫长的诉讼，原告终于赢得了官司。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò màncháng de sùsòng, yuángào zhōngyú yíngdéle guānsi.
  • English: After a long litigation, the plaintiff finally won the case.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the lengthy nature of the legal process. 原告 (yuángào) means “plaintiff.”
• Example 5:
  • 这是一起复杂的民事诉讼案件。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī qǐ fùzá de mínshì sùsòng ànjiàn.
  • English: This is a complex civil lawsuit case.
  • Analysis: 民事诉讼 (mínshì sùsòng) specifies the type of case. This is standard legal terminology.
• Example 6:
  • 律师建议我们庭外和解，以避免诉讼。
  • Pinyin: Lǜshī jiànyì wǒmen tíngwài héjiě, yǐ bìmiǎn sùsòng.
  • English: The lawyer recommended that we settle out of court to avoid a lawsuit.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural and practical preference for avoiding 诉讼 through 和解 (héjiě), or settlement.
• Example 7:
  • 在刑事诉讼中，被告有权保持沉默。
  • Pinyin: Zài xíngshì sùsòng zhōng, bèigào yǒuquán bǎochí chénmò.
  • English: In criminal proceedings, the defendant has the right to remain silent.
  • Analysis: 刑事诉讼 (xíngshì sùsòng) refers to criminal cases, which are handled differently from civil ones.
• Example 8:
  • 整个诉讼过程持续了两年多。
  • Pinyin: Zhěnggè sùsòng guòchéng chíxùle liǎng nián duō.
  • English: The entire litigation process lasted for more than two years.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 诉讼过程 (sùsòng guòchéng), meaning “litigation process,” to talk about the timeline.
• Example 9:
  • 他因为输了诉讼而感到非常沮丧。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi shūle sùsòng ér gǎndào fēicháng jǔsàng.
  • English: He felt very depressed because he lost the lawsuit.
  • Analysis: A simple, clear example of the consequences of an unfavorable outcome.
• Example 10:
  • 跨国诉讼通常涉及复杂的法律问题。
  • Pinyin: Kuàguó sùsòng tōngcháng shèjí fùzá de fǎlǜ wèntí.
  • English: Transnational litigation usually involves complex legal issues.
  • Analysis: Shows how 诉讼 can be modified by other words, like 跨国 (kuàguó), meaning “transnational.”

The most common mistake for English speakers is treating 诉讼 (sùsòng) like the English verb “to sue.” 诉讼 is a noun, not a verb. You cannot “诉讼” someone.

• Incorrect: 我要诉讼你。 (Wǒ yào sùsòng nǐ.) → “I want to litigation you.” (Grammatically incorrect)
• Correct (Formal): 我要对你提起诉讼。 (Wǒ yào duì nǐ tíqǐ sùsòng.) → “I want to initiate a lawsuit against you.”
• Correct (Common Verb): 我要起诉你。 (Wǒ yào qǐsù nǐ.) → “I want to sue/prosecute you.”
• Correct (Colloquial): 我要告你。 (Wǒ yào gào nǐ.) → “I'm going to sue you.”

Think of it this way: 起诉 (qǐsù) or 告 (gào) is the action (the verb “to sue”), while 诉讼 (sùsòng) is the resulting formal process (the noun “litigation”).

• 起诉 (qǐsù) - To sue; to prosecute. This is the formal verb for initiating 诉讼.
• 官司 (guānsi) - A lawsuit. A more colloquial noun than 诉讼. You can say “打官司 (dǎ guānsi)” which means “to be in a lawsuit.”
• 告 (gào) - To sue; to tell on someone. A common, multi-purpose verb that is less formal than 起诉.
• 原告 (yuángào) - Plaintiff; the accuser who initiates the lawsuit.
• 被告 (bèigào) - Defendant; the one being accused or sued.
• 法院 (fǎyuàn) - Court; courthouse. The place where a 诉讼 is heard.
• 律师 (lǜshī) - Lawyer. The professional you hire for a 诉讼.
• 判决 (pànjué) - A judgment; a verdict. The final decision of the court in a 诉讼.
• 和解 (héjiě) - Reconciliation; settlement. The act of resolving a dispute out of court, often seen as the preferred alternative to 诉讼.
• 民事 (mínshì) / 刑事 (xíngshì) - Civil / Criminal. Adjectives used to classify the type of 诉讼.