What does 错 mean in Chinese?

错 (cuò) means "mistake; wrong; bad; interlocking; complex; to grind; to polish; to alternate; to stagger; to miss; to let slip; to evade; to inlay with gold or silver" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 2.

How do you pronounce 错?

错 is pronounced "cuò" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 4.

What HSK level is 错?

错 is an HSK 2 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 2 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 错?

Common words with 错 include 不错 (correct), 差错 (mistake), 交错 (to crisscross), 做错 (to make an error), 出错 (to make a mistake).

How do you write 错?

错 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 钅. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

错 (cuò), mistake

错

cuò

mistake; wrong; bad; interlocking

HSK 2verb13 strokes

Traditional: 錯

Character Breakdown

错 = 钅 + 昔

Metal from the past — wrong, an error

Radical: 钅 (no. 167)Strokes: 13Traditional: 錯

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) mistake
wrong
bad
interlocking
complex
to grind
to polish
to alternate
to stagger
to miss
to let slip
to evade
to inlay with gold or silver

Example Sentences

这是错的。

Zhè shì cuò de

This is wrong

Words Containing 错

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
不错	bù cuò	correct	HSK 2
差错	chā cuò	mistake	HSK 7-9
交错	jiāo cuò	to crisscross
做错	zuò cuò	to make an error
出错

→

钿(diàn)· to inlay with gold, silver etc

→

失手(shī shǒu)· a slip

→

将错就错(jiāng cuò jiù cuò)· lit. if it's wrong, it's wrong (idiom); to make the best after a mistake

→

Grammar Notes

Basic Resultative ComplementsHSK 2

Subject + Verb + Resultative Complement (+ Object)

Degree Complement (得)HSK 2

Verb + 得 + Description

Still/Also (还)HSK 3

Subject + 还 + Verb/Adjective

Emphasis with 是HSK 3

Subject + 是 + Verb/Adjective + (的)

Rhetorical Questions (难道)HSK 3

难道 + Subject + (不/没) + Verb + 吗？

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 2
HSK 2.0: HSK 2
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

错: HSK 2 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 2 exam

Studying for HSK 2? Keep 错 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 2 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

错