肇事

zhàoshì

verb HSK 7-9 #9,985

Meanings

肇事司机已经被警方抓获。

Zhàoshì sījī yǐjīng bèi jǐngfāng zhuāhuò.

The driver who caused the accident has been caught by the police.

他肇事后逃逸了。

Tā zhàoshì hòu táoyì le.

He fled after causing the accident.

usage

肇事 is most commonly used in traffic/accident contexts. 肇事者 = the person who caused the incident; 肇事逃逸 = hit-and-run.

memory

肇 looks complex but just means 'to cause/start.' Think: 肇事 = started (肇) an incident (事).

肇 zhào

事 shì