Verb + 错
HSK 2- Complements
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Resultative complement 错 is used after a verb to indicate that the action was done incorrectly, mistakenly, or inaccurately.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
When you want to express that an action was performed incorrectly, add 错 (cuò) directly after the verb. Here, 错 functions as a resultative complement, indicating that the result of the action is "wrong" or "mistaken."
This structure is very common in everyday communication — for example, "looked at the wrong thing," "heard incorrectly," "wrote something wrong." To negate it, use 没 before the verb, e.g., 我没说错 (I didn't say it wrong).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 对不起，我说错了。繁: 對不起，我說錯了。Duìbuqǐ, wǒ shuō cuò le.
I apologize, I spoke incorrectly.
- 你写错字了。繁: 你寫錯字了。Nǐ xiě cuò zì le.
You wrote the character incorrectly.
- 他走错路了。繁: 他走錯路了。Tā zǒu cuò lù le.
He took the wrong road.
- 我买错东西了。繁: 我買錯東西了。Wǒ mǎi cuò dōngxi le.
I bought the wrong thing.
- 你是不是看错人了？繁: 你是不是看錯人了？Nǐ shì bu shì kàn cuò rén le?
Did you mistake someone for another person?
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我错写了那个字。Correct:我写错了那个字。
The result complement 错 must stand immediately after the verb it modifies and cannot precede the verb.
- Wrong:我打一个错的电话。Correct:我打错电话了。
To express the mistaken action of "making a phone call," use the structure verb + 错, not 的 to describe it.