shèngsù: 胜诉 - To Win a Lawsuit

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• Summary: Learn the specific Chinese legal term 胜诉 (shèngsù), which means “to win a lawsuit” or “to win a court case.” This page breaks down the characters 胜 (victory) and 诉 (sue), provides cultural context on litigation in China, and offers numerous practical example sentences. Understand how to use this formal term correctly and distinguish it from the general verb “to win” (赢 yíng). This is an essential vocabulary word for anyone interested in modern Chinese society, business, or law.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shèngsù
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To win a lawsuit; to win a legal case.
• In a Nutshell: This is a formal, specific term used exclusively in a legal context. It describes the outcome of a court case where the judgment is in your favor. Think of it as the official declaration of a “legal victory.” You wouldn't use it for winning a game or an argument, only for a formal lawsuit.

• 胜 (shèng): This character means “victory,” “to win,” or “to triumph.” It signifies success in a competition or conflict.
• 诉 (sù): This character means “to sue,” “to accuse,” or “to complain.” The radical on the left, 言 (yán), means “speech” or “words,” indicating that this action is done through formal speech or written accusation.

When combined, 胜诉 (shèngsù) literally means “victory in a lawsuit.” The characters create a clear and direct meaning that is impossible to mistake for any other type of winning.

While litigation exists worldwide, the cultural approach to it has traditionally differed between China and many Western countries. Historically, Chinese culture, influenced by Confucian values, has often prioritized social harmony (和谐, héxié) and the preservation of “face” (面子, miànzi). Taking a dispute to a court was often seen as a last resort, an admission that the relationship had completely broken down. Mediation and finding a middle ground were highly preferred. In contrast, a country like the United States is often described as more “litigious,” where suing is a more common and accepted method for resolving disputes. However, modern China is changing rapidly. With a booming economy and an increasingly complex society, the legal system has become a crucial part of daily life and business. The term 胜诉 is now commonplace in news reports, business dealings, and public discourse. Its frequent use reflects a societal shift towards using formal legal channels to protect one's rights, a significant departure from traditional norms. While the cultural preference for harmony still exists, the concept of achieving justice through 胜诉 is now firmly established.

胜诉 is a formal term. You will most often encounter it in the following contexts:

• News and Media: Reporting on the outcome of high-profile court cases, such as intellectual property disputes or civil lawsuits.
• Legal Documents: It will appear in official court judgments and legal correspondence.
• Formal Discussions: When discussing a lawsuit with a lawyer (律师, lǜshī) or anyone involved in the case.

It is not used in casual, everyday conversation for non-legal wins. The connotation is generally neutral-to-positive, as it factually describes a favorable outcome for one party.

• Example 1:
  • 经过多年的努力，原告终于胜诉了。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò duōnián de nǔlì, yuángào zhōngyú shèngsù le.
  • English: After many years of effort, the plaintiff finally won the case.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, straightforward example. 终于 (zhōngyú), meaning “finally,” emphasizes the long and difficult process of the lawsuit.
• Example 2:
  • 我们的律师非常有信心，他觉得我们胜诉的几率很大。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de lǜshī fēicháng yǒu xìnxīn, tā juéde wǒmen shèngsù de jīlǜ hěn dà.
  • English: Our lawyer is very confident; he feels that our chances of winning the case are high.
  • Analysis: Here, 胜诉 is used with 的几率 (de jīlǜ), meaning “the probability/chance of,” showing it can be discussed as a potential outcome.
• Example 3:
  • 这家公司在专利侵权案中胜诉，获得了巨额赔偿。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zài zhuānlì qīnquán àn zhōng shèngsù, huòdéle jù'é péicháng.
  • English: The company won the patent infringement case and received a huge amount of compensation.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a common context for 胜诉: business and intellectual property law. 侵权案 (qīnquán àn) means “infringement case.”
• Example 4:
  • 如果一审败诉，我们还可以继续上诉，直到胜诉为止。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ yīshěn bàisù, wǒmen hái kěyǐ jìxù shàngsù, zhídào shèngsù wéizhǐ.
  • English: If we lose the first trial, we can still continue to appeal until we win the case.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces the antonym 败诉 (bàisù), “to lose a case,” and the related term 上诉 (shàngsù), “to appeal.”
• Example 5:
  • 他为自己讨回了公道，胜诉的消息让他激动不已。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèi zìjǐ tǎohuí le gōngdào, shèngsù de xiāoxi ràng tā jīdòng bùyǐ.
  • English: He won justice for himself; the news of the legal victory made him extremely emotional.
  • Analysis: This shows the emotional impact of winning a case. 胜诉的消息 (shèngsù de xiāoxi) means “the news of winning the lawsuit.”
• Example 6:
  • 想要胜诉，你需要提供充足的证据。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎng yào shèngsù, nǐ xūyào tígōng chōngzú de zhèngjù.
  • English: If you want to win the lawsuit, you need to provide sufficient evidence.
  • Analysis: A sentence giving practical advice, directly linking the action of 胜诉 to the requirement of 证据 (zhèngjù), “evidence.”
• Example 7:
  • 尽管被告聘请了顶级律师，但原告最终还是胜诉了。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn bèigào pìnqǐng le dǐngjí lǜshī, dàn yuángào zuìzhōng háishì shèngsù le.
  • English: Although the defendant hired a top-tier lawyer, the plaintiff still won the case in the end.
  • Analysis: This example contrasts the efforts of the two sides, highlighting the final outcome. 被告 (bèigào) is “defendant.”
• Example 8:
  • 在这起离婚案中，法院判女方胜诉，获得了孩子的抚养权。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhè qǐ líhūn àn zhōng, fǎyuàn pàn nǚfāng shèngsù, huòdéle háizi de fǔyǎngquán.
  • English: In this divorce case, the court ruled in favor of the woman (she won the case) and she obtained custody of the child.
  • Analysis: Shows how 胜诉 is used in civil cases like divorce. 抚养权 (fǔyǎngquán) means “custody rights.”
• Example 9:
  • 这次胜诉不仅是经济上的胜利，更是对我们公司声誉的维护。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì shèngsù bùjǐn shì jīngjì shàng de shènglì, gèng shì duì wǒmen gōngsī shēngyù de wéihù.
  • English: This legal victory is not only a financial win, but more importantly, it's a defense of our company's reputation.
  • Analysis: This sentence explores the broader implications of winning a case, beyond just the legal decision.
• Example 10:
  • 双方最终选择了庭外和解，所以没有谁胜诉或败诉。
  • Pinyin: Shuāngfāng zuìzhōng xuǎnzéle tíngwài héjiě, suǒyǐ méiyǒu shéi shèngsù huò bàisù.
  • English: Both parties ultimately chose an out-of-court settlement, so nobody won or lost the case.
  • Analysis: This sentence clarifies the scope of 胜诉 by contrasting it with 和解 (héjiě), “to settle,” which is a different outcome altogether.

• Don't use 胜诉 for non-legal situations. This is the biggest mistake learners make. You cannot use 胜诉 for winning a sports game, a debate, or a video game. For those situations, you must use 赢 (yíng).
  • Incorrect: 我昨天打篮球胜诉了。(Wǒ zuótiān dǎ lánqiú shèngsù le.)
  • Correct: 我昨天打篮球赢了。(Wǒ zuótiān dǎ lánqiú yíng le.) - I won the basketball game yesterday.
• 胜诉 vs. 打赢官司 (dǎ yíng guānsi): The phrase 打赢官司 means “to win a lawsuit” and is more colloquial than 胜诉. While they mean the same thing, 胜诉 is the formal, written term you'd see in a newspaper headline or a legal document. 打赢官司 is what someone might say in a conversation.
  • Formal: 原告胜诉。(The plaintiff won the case.)
  • Colloquial: 原告把官司打赢了。(The plaintiff won the lawsuit.)

• 败诉 (bàisù) - The direct antonym of 胜诉; to lose a lawsuit.
• 上诉 (shàngsù) - To appeal a court's decision, often after a 败诉.
• 起诉 (qǐsù) - To sue; to file a lawsuit. This is the action that starts the legal process.
• 诉讼 (sùsòng) - The lawsuit or litigation itself (as a noun).
• 打官司 (dǎ guānsi) - A common, more colloquial verb phrase meaning “to go to court” or “to litigate.”
• 原告 (yuángào) - The plaintiff; the person who initiates the lawsuit.
• 被告 (bèigào) - The defendant; the person being sued.
• 律师 (lǜshī) - Lawyer; attorney.
• 法院 (fǎyuàn) - Court of law.
• 和解 (héjiě) - To settle a dispute out of court. This is an alternative to a court judgment resulting in 胜诉 or 败诉.