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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'to blame' with 怪 (guài)

    Actions & Events
    Result & Consequence

    Structure

    Subject + (不)怪 + Person + Verb Phrase

    Explanation

    怪 (guài) means "to blame" when used as a verb, indicating that someone is held responsible for a mistake or wrongdoing. It is often used in negative constructions like 不怪你 (don't blame you). For example, 我不怪你不知道 means "I don't blame you for not knowing."

    Examples

    • 这件事不怪你，是我自己没说清楚。

      Zhè jiàn shì bù guài nǐ, shì wǒ zìjǐ méi shuō qīngchu.

      This isn't your fault; I didn't explain it clearly myself.

    • 别怪他迟到，路上堵车很严重。

      Bié guài tā chídào, lùshang dǔchē hěn yánzhòng.

      Don't blame him for being late; the traffic jam was really bad.

    • 你要怪就怪天气吧，谁知道会突然下雨。

      Nǐ yào guài jiù guài tiānqì ba, shéi zhīdào huì tūrán xiàyǔ.

      If you want to blame someone, blame the weather — who knew it would suddenly rain?

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    Expressing 'to blame' with 怪 (guài) | Chinese Grammar