The villagers collectively sued the polluting company.
Tips
history
状 originally meant a 诉状 sùzhuàng — a written legal complaint submitted to a magistrate. In imperial China, 状告 meant filing such a document with the yamen 衙门. The word survived into modern Chinese as a slightly more emphatic synonym of 起诉 qǐsù.
register
状告 carries a flavor of righteous grievance — 'I'm taking you to court.' Compare neutral 起诉 qǐsù (file a lawsuit) and 控告 kònggào (to accuse, often criminally). Common in news headlines about David-vs-Goliath disputes.
