HSK 3.0 · LEVEL 1
错
wrong, mistaken, error, or an opportunity missed.
Free Chinese vocabulary flashcard · HSK 1
Why does 错 look like this?
It combines 钅 (metal) + 昔 (ancient/bygone). Originally, it meant to inlay or plate gold/silver on metal. Over time, its meaning shifted from 'interlocking' to 'deviating' and finally to 'wrong' or 'mistake.' Think of it as a metal surface that has become uneven or crossed over!