To litigate is to take a claim or complaint to a court of law — not just to be angry, and not just to send a letter, but to ask a judge to decide. Companies litigate over money; neighbours sometimes litigate over land.

To litigate提起訴訟 is to take a claim or complaint to a court of law就是把訴求或不滿告上法院 — not just to be angry不只是生氣， and not just to send a letter也不只是寄一封信， but to ask a judge to decide而是請法官來裁決。 Companies公司 litigate over money會為了錢打官司； neighbours sometimes鄰居有時候 litigate over land會為了土地打官司。

It is a formal verb. In ordinary talk people say sue or take someone to court.

It is這是 a formal verb一個正式的動詞。 In ordinary talk在日常說法裡， people大家 say sue or take someone to court會說sue（告）或take someone to court（把人告上法院）。

Though actually, a lot of litigating never becomes a big public trial. Lawyers file papers, argue, and often settle. The word still fits, because the court path has been opened.

Though actually,不過其實， a lot of litigating很多打官司的過程 never becomes a big public trial從來不會變成一場公開的大審判。 Lawyers律師 file papers, argue, and often settle會遞交文件、辯論，然後常常和解。 The word這個字 still fits還是說得通， because the court path has been opened因為走上法院這條路的這件事已經發生了。

You litigate a case, a dispute, or an issue; you do not ‘litigate a person’ in careful English, even though the other person is on the other side.

You你 litigate a case, a dispute, or an issue可以litigate一個案子、一場爭端或一個議題； you do not ‘litigate a person’ in careful English但在講究的英文裡不會說‘litigate a person’（對一個人litigate）， even though the other person is on the other side即使對方就是站在對立面的那個人。