事

shì
#58 most
frequent character
thing
noun
Measure words:件 jiàn,桩 zhuāng,回 huí

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

事 comes from 史, with a V-shaped mark added at the top to keep the two apart. That mark became 十 in the modern form. It first meant 'official duties, work', then grew to 'affair, matter' and 'thing'.

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Example Sentences

这件事很重要。
zhè jiàn shì hěn zhòngyào 。
This matter is very important.
你在做什么事？
nǐzài zuò shénme shì ？
What are you doing?
这是一件好事。
zhè shì yījiàn hǎoshì 。
This is a good thing.

Words with similar meanings

事情shìqíng
matter
A broader term that encompasses various types of affairs or events.
工作gōngzuò
work
Typically refers to tasks or jobs, but can be used interchangeably in some contexts.

Words Starting With 事

事先shì xiān
in advance; before the event; beforehand; prior
事实shì shí
a fact; the fact that
事情shì qing
"affair; matter; thing; business
事物shì wù
thing; object
事业shì yè
"undertaking; project; activity; (charitable, political or revolutionary) cause; publicly funded institution, enterprise or foundation; career; occupation

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