usage of 误

[cotidiano]

误 can be used as to miss something, as in:

我们就要误飞机了 we are about to miss the plane

but can it also be used for classes, people, etc? For example, i want to say "I must hurry, I don't want to miss chinese class" 我得快一点，不要误中文的课。 Here I am not trying to say "be late for", but that if i don't hurry I will miss the entire class.

Or if a friend will be leaving some location, and I am hurrying to see him before he takes off, can i say:

我们应该走快一点，不要误他。 we should walk quickly, we don't want to miss him

Jaime

[Danny2312]

.....

[kenny2006]

错过 better than 误

我们就要误（miss）飞机了（is alright）

飞机误（be late）点了

工作条件不好,容易误(delay)工

我得快一点，不要错过(miss)中文课

我们应该走快一点，不要错过(miss)他

[Nakura]

误　can be used to person, but the meaning is quite different.

“这样会误了学生”。the teacher would misleading his students.

我们应该走快一点，不要误他。No, chinese people don't say that. You may say 我们应该走快一点，不要误了约会。

[cotidiano]

Thanks for the replies. Danny2312, what would you put instead of 误 in this sentence: 我们就要误飞机了 we are about to miss the plane

It's one of the sentences from a Chinesepod podcast. Perhaps it's more used in some areas than others, or would you just say it's an outdated term across the board?

Nakura, so then 误 is generally followed by an event, like a date, flight, etc, and not a person? Sorry for the probing questions but yes i am that student who is constantly on the search for the elusive "why", lol

[Danny2312]

I would normally say '再不快点我们就不能上飞机了'. This is a rather informal way of saying it. But your sentence is correct as well, but I rarely see people write it that way, so I find it a bit outdated. But that's just my personal opinion.

[Nakura]

Ok. As a verb, 误 generally has two meanings:

firstly, miss sth. due to delay; close to 耽误，for example: 我误了航班；我误了约会.

secondly, harm sb.'s work, career, study etc. due to misleading, persuading or teaching in a wrong way Such as: 你这样会误了孩子；

成语：误人子弟　（ bad teacher misleads students)

[cotidiano]

Great explanations, thanks!

[xiaocai]

@cotidiano

I think it is better add 了 after 误 in those sentences in the first post to make them sound more natural.

[aifeluna]

to present miss, it's better to use dan1wu4. if only wu4, no offence, it soulds like a little old fashion. LOL

[cotidiano]

That's two votes for old-fashioned. I will take the hint.

[Nakura]

it soulds like a little old fashion

On the contrary, I think it's simple and native expression.

[cotidiano]

Hmm... well it does appear in Chinesepod, and now this...well, I am a middle-aged fellow. Perhaps it might make me appear a bit frumpy but hell's bells, I try it anyway, see what the natives say.