事shì

事

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Simplified · Today

简体

Simplified Chinese

Modern simplified form (簡體). 事 (shì, "affair, matter") remains unchanged from its traditional counterpart — the ancient character depicted a hand (又) grasping a tool, symbolizing work in progress. Over millennia, the pictographic meaning faded as it became one of the most versatile words in the language, appearing in 事情 (affair), 事业 (enterprise), 事故 (accident) and countless other combinations that govern daily life.

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Shuowen

The character depicts a hand (又) firmly gripping a measuring rod or tool, capturing the essence of actively engaging with work. This imagery represents the original meaning of handling, serving, and managing affairs—the hand holding the instrument conveys purposeful activity and service. Over time, the specific sense of using a tool expanded to mean affairs, matters, or events in general.

Pinyin

shì· HSK 1

事shì

Character evolution

Shuowen

Pinyin