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故

gù

HSK 7–9

Meaning

  • happening
  • instance
  • reason
  • cause
  • intentional
  • former
  • old
  • friend
  • therefore
  • hence
  • (of people) to die, dead

Definition

所以；原因；旧的；故意

therefore; reason; old; intentionally

Usage

故作为连词表示因果关系，作为名词指原因或缘故，作为形容词指从前的或旧的，作为副词指故意地。

As a conjunction, 故 indicates a causal relationship; as a noun, it means reason or cause; as an adjective, it means former or old; as an adverb, it means intentionally.

Examples

  • 1 因为下雨，故比赛延期。 (Because it rained, the game was postponed.)
  • 2 不知何故，他今天没来上班。 (For some reason, he didn't come to work today.)
  • 3 故宫是明清两代的皇宫。 (The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties.)
  • 4 他故做镇定，其实心里很紧张。 (He pretended to be calm, but was actually very nervous.)
  • 5 故人西辞黄鹤楼，烟花三月下扬州。 (My old friend has left the Yellow Crane Tower; in March, the smoke of blossoms goes down to Yangzhou.)
  • 6 他故意见到你却不打招呼。 (He intentionally ignored you without greeting.)

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