‘过失’ (guò shī) is a formal noun meaning ‘mistake’ or ‘fault’, especially one resulting from carelessness, negligence, or lack of attention—not deliberate wrongdoing. The character 过 (guò) here carries the sense of ‘error’ or ‘violation’ (as in 过错), while 失 (shī) means ‘to lose’ or ‘to fail’, implying a lapse or failure to meet an expected standard. Together, they form a compound emphasizing unintentional human error rather than moral failing.

This word appears frequently in official, legal, or workplace contexts—for example, when discussing responsibility for accidents, administrative errors, or professional oversight. It’s more serious and formal than colloquial alternatives like 错误 (cuòwù) or 搞错了 (gǎo cuò le), and it often implies accountability. While not inherently negative in tone, its use suggests the mistake has consequences worth noting or correcting, such as in safety reports, performance reviews, or apologies made by organizations.