guān si
lawsuit
他因为打架斗殴被判了三年官司。
tā yīnwèi dǎjià dòu'ǒu bèi pànle sān nián guānsī.
He was sentenced to three years in prison for fighting.
这场官司已经持续了好几年了。
zhè chǎng guānsī yǐjīng chíxùle hǎo jǐ niánle.
The lawsuit has been going on for several years.
我不想和你打官司。
wǒ bùxiǎng hé nǐ dǎ guānsī.
I don't want to sue you.
诉讼 (sù sòng)
litigation
官讼 (guān sòng)
lawsuit
和解 (hé jiě)
reconciliation
调解 (tiáo jiě)
mediation
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The Chinese word 官司 (guānsī) for "lawsuit" or "litigation" is composed of two characters: 官 (guān) and 司 (sī). The character 官 originally meant "government official" or "bureaucrat," but it can also be used in a broader sense to refer to the government or the state. The character 司 originally meant "to manage" or "to control," but it can also be used in a more general sense to refer to a department or a branch of government.When combined, the two characters 官司 (guānsī) take on the meaning of "lawsuit" or "litigation." This is because lawsuits and litigation are typically handled by government officials or bureaucrats, and they often involve disputes over the management or control of resources or property.In addition to its literal meaning, the word 官司 (guānsī) can also be used in a more figurative sense to refer to a difficult or challenging situation. For example, someone might say that they are "caught up in a 官司 (guānsī)" if they are involved in a complicated or time-consuming legal battle.
