This short guide explains when to use duì 对 and cuò 错 to say something is correct or wrong in everyday Mandarin. Each section gives quick examples to show the difference.
Duì 对
Use duì 对 to say that something is right, correct, or that someone has answered or understood properly. It can mark a true statement or a successful action.
Examples
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🧳 我的护照在这里，对了。 | Wǒ de hùzhào zài zhèlǐ, duìle. | My passport is here, that's right. | |
| 🗺️ 路线不难，对，就是这样走。 | Lùxiàn bù nán, duì, jiù shì zhèyàng zǒu. | The route isn’t difficult, correct, just go like this. | |
| 🏨 酒店在前面，对，我们就住那里。 | Jiǔdiàn zài qiánmiàn, duì, wǒmen jiù zhù nàlǐ. | The hotel is ahead, right, we’ll stay there. | |
| 📱 我查过时间了，对，下午三点出发。 | Wǒ chá guò shíjiān le, duì, xiàwǔ sān diǎn chūfā. | I checked the time, correct, we leave at 3 pm. |
Short sentences
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👍 对。 | Duì. | Correct. | |
| ✔️ 说得对。 | Shuō de duì. | That's right. | |
| 🆗 我对了。 | Wǒ duìle. | I got it right. | |
| ✅ 答案对。 | Dá'àn duì. | The answer is correct. |
Longer sentences
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌍 我们先去那里看看，对，再决定下一步。 | Wǒmen xiān qù nàlǐ kàn kàn, duì, zài juédìng xià yībù. | Let’s go there first, right, then decide the next step. | |
| 🚌 公交路线换了，对，现在要先坐地铁。 | Gōngjiāo lùxiàn huàn le, duì, xiànzài yào xiān zuò dìtiě. | The bus route changed, correct, now we have to take the subway first. | |
| 🗝️ 我找到房间钥匙了，对，房号是502。 | Wǒ zhǎodào fángjiān yàoshi le, duì, fáng hào shì 502. | I found the room key, right, the room number is 502. | |
| 🍴 附近有餐厅，对，我们先吃饭再出发。 | Fùjìn yǒu cāntīng, duì, wǒmen xiān chīfàn zài chūfā. | There’s a restaurant nearby, right, let’s eat before leaving. |
Cuò 错
Use cuò 错 to say that something is wrong, incorrect, or that someone has made a mistake. It can apply to answers, actions, or judgments.
Examples
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🧭 方向错了，我们该往左走。 | Fāngxiàng cuò le, wǒmen gāi wǎng zuǒ zǒu. | The direction is wrong, we should go left. | |
| 🏷️ 价格标签错了，应该是八十，不是八百。 | Jiàgé biāoqiān cuò le, yīnggāi shì bāshí, bù shì bābǎi. | The price tag is wrong, it should be eighty, not eight hundred. | |
| 🗓️ 日期写错了，会议是明天不是今天。 | Rìqī xiě cuò le, huìyì shì míngtiān bùshì jīntiān. | The date was written wrong, the meeting is tomorrow, not today. | |
| 🔑 钥匙拿错了，这是我的箱子不是你的。 | Yàoshi ná cuò le, zhè shì wǒ de xiāngzi bù shì nǐ de. | You took the wrong key, this is my suitcase, not yours. |
Short sentences
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ❌ 错。 | Cuò. | Wrong. | |
| 🙅 不是错的。 | Bù shì cuò de. | It’s not wrong. | |
| 🔄 我错了。 | Wǒ cuò le. | I was wrong. | |
| ⚠️ 错误。 | Cuòwù. | Error. |
Longer sentences
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🚧 路上有施工，走错路了，我们得绕一圈。 | Lù shàng yǒu shī gōng, zǒu cuò lù le, wǒmen děi rào yī quān. | There’s construction on the road, we took a wrong turn, we have to detour. | |
| 🗝️ 钥匙不对了，门打不开，我们再找找看。 | Yàoshi bù duì le, mén dǎ bù kāi, wǒmen zài zhǎo zhǎo kàn. | The key is wrong, the door won’t open, let’s look again. | |
| 📝 护照信息填错了，姓名和号码都不对。 | Hùzhào xìnxī tián cuò le, xìngmíng hé hàomǎ dōu bù duì. | The passport information was filled out incorrectly, name and number are both wrong. | |
| 🕒 时间记错了，我们提前了一个小时出发。 | Shíjiān jì cuò le, wǒmen tíqián le yī gè xiǎoshí chūfā. | The time was remembered wrong, we left an hour early. |
Opposite Uses
Remember that duì 对 marks correctness while cuò 错 marks error; they often appear in parallel sentences to highlight right vs wrong.
Summary
Use duì 对 to confirm something is correct and cuò 错 to point out mistakes; practice with short sentences to feel their difference in context.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025