事

事 U+4E8B, 事 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E8B ← 亊 [U+4E8A] CJK Unified Ideographs 二 → [U+4E8C]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

事 (Kangxi radical 6, 亅+7, 8 strokes, cangjie input 十中中弓 (JLLN), four-corner 5000₇, composition ⿻⿱𠮛⺕亅)

Derived characters

• 倳, 𠶝, 𢜝, 𣓊, 𧨴, 𨧫(𬭑), 𫻋, 䭄, 𫻐, 剚, 𠡯, 𠄜, 𡸪, 𠡸, 𱠉

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 85, character 24
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 241
• Dae Jaweon: page 174, character 15
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 23, character 3
• Unihan data for U+4E8B

Chinese

simp. and trad.		事
2nd round simp.		⿱㇋丶
alternative forms		亊 叓 㕝 𠁱 𠫺 亊 叓 㕝 𠁱 𠫺 𠭏 𤔇 𪜃 𠭆

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 事
Shang		Western Zhou	Spring and Autumn	Warring States			Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)		Liushutong (compiled in Ming)	Libian (compiled in Qing)	Kangxi Dictionary (compiled in Qing)
Bronze inscriptions	Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Ancient script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts	Clerical script	Ming typeface
Oracle bone script j06324 j06325 j06326 j06327 j06328 j06329 j06330 j06331 j06332 j06333 j06334 j06335 j06336 j06337 j06338 j06339 j06340 j06341 j06342 j06343 j06344 j06345 j06346 j06347 j06348 j06349 j06350 j06351 j06352 j06353 j06354 j06355 j06356 j06357 j06358 j06359 j06360 j06361 j06362 j06363 j06364 j06365 j06366 j06367 j06368 j06369 j06370 j06371 j06372 j06373 j06374 j06375 j06376 j06377 j06378 j06379 j06380 j06381 j06382 j06383 j06384 j06385 j06386 j06387 j06388 j06389 j06390 j06391 j06392 j06393 j06394 j06395 j06396 j06397 j06398 j06399 j06400 j06401 j06402 j06403 j06404 j06405 j06406 j06407 j06408 j06409 j06410 j06411 j06412 Bronze inscriptions b04254 b04255 b04256 b04257 b04258 b04259 b04260 b04261 b04262 b04263 b04264 b04265 b04266 b04267 b04268 b04269 b04270 b04271 b04272 b04273 b04274 b04275 b04276 b04277 b04278 b04279 b04280 b04281 b04282 b04283 b04284 b04285 b04286 b04287 b04288 b04289 b04290 b04291 b04292 b04293 b04294 b04295 b04296 b04297 b04298 b04299 b04300 b04301 b04302 b04303 b04304 b04305 b04306 b04307 b04308 b04309 b04310 b04311 b04312 b04313 b04314 b04315 b04316 b04317 b04318 b04319 b04320 b04321 b04322 b04323 b04324 b04325 b04326 b04327 b04328 b04329 b04330 b04331 b04332 b04333 b04334 Small seal script s02204 Transcribed ancient scripts L35597 L35598 L35599 L35600 L35601 L35602 L35603 L19161 L19162 L19163 L19164 L19165 L19166 L19167 L19168 L19169 L19170 L19171 L19172 L19173 L19174
References: Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including: Shuowen Jiezi (small seal), Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions), Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (史) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
吏	*rɯs
倳	*ʔsrɯs
剚	*ʔsrɯs
事	*ʔsrɯs, *zrɯs
史	*srɯʔ
使	*srɯʔ, *srɯs
駛	*srɯʔ, *srɯs

Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意): 又 (“hand”) + 中 (“a flagpole with a drum”) – flag in hand > to perform one's job. Compare 吏. Furthermore, both character are related to 史, which is a variant without the horizontal stroke on top.

Etymology

Exopassive of 士 (OC *zrɯʔ, “to give or carry out an assignment; to serve”), literally “what has been assigned” (Schuessler, 2007).

Alternatively, based on Gong (2000), STEDT derives it from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *r-dzas (“thing”), whence Burmese စာ (ca, “thing”) and Tibetan རྫས (rdzas, “thing, object, matter”).

Pronunciation 1

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): shì (shi⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄕˋ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): si⁴

  (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): sī

  (Nanjing, Nanjing Pinyin): siī

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): сы (sɨ, III)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): si⁶

  (Dongguan, Jyutping++): sai³

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): lhu⁵

• Gan (Wiktionary): si⁵
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): sṳ / se

  (Hailu, HRS): sii^˖ / she^˖

  (Meixian, Guangdong): si⁴ / sê⁴

• Jin (Wiktionary): si³
• Northern Min (KCR): dī / si̿ / sū
• Eastern Min (BUC): sê̤ṳ / dâi
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): so⁵ / dai⁵
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): sū / sīr / sǐr / sī / tāi

  (Teochew, Peng'im): se⁷ / se⁶ / dai⁷

  (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): su⁷

• Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): sai⁶
• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ⁶zy
  • (Jinhua): ⁶zy
• Xiang

  (Changsha, Wiktionary): sr⁵ / sr⁴

  (Hengyang, Wiktionary): sr⁵

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shì
    • Zhuyin: ㄕˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shìh
    • Wade–Giles: shih⁴
    • Yale: shr̀
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyh
    • Palladius: ши (ši)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩⁵¹/
      
  • (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed) (事兒 / 事儿)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shìr
    • Zhuyin: ㄕˋㄦ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shìhr
    • Wade–Giles: shih⁴-ʼrh
    • Yale: shìr
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shell
    • Palladius: шир (šir)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩ɻ⁵¹/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: si⁴
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: s
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩²¹³/
  • (Xi'an)
    • Guanzhong Pinyin: sī
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩⁵⁵/
  • (Nanjing)
    • Nanjing Pinyin: siī
    • Nanjing Pinyin (numbered): sii⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩⁴⁴/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: сы (sɨ, III)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩⁴⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: si⁶
    • Yale: sih
    • Cantonese Pinyin: si⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: xi⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /siː²²/
  • (Dongguan, Guancheng)
    • Jyutping++: sai³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɐi³²/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: lhu⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬu³²/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: si⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩¹¹/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ / se
    • Hakka Romanization System: sii / se
    • Hagfa Pinyim: si⁴ / se⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /sɨ⁵⁵/, /se⁵⁵/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: sii^˖ / she^˖
    • Sinological IPA: /sɨ³³/, /ʃe³³/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: si⁴ / sê⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /sz̩⁵³/, /se⁵³/

Note: se/sê4 - “work”.

• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: si³
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /sz̩⁴⁵/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: dī / si̿ / sū
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ti⁵⁵/, /si³³/, /su⁵⁵/

Note:

• dī, si̿ - vernacular;
• sū - literary.

• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: sê̤ṳ / dâi
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /søy²⁴²/, /tɑi²⁴²/

Note:

• sê̤ṳ - literary;
• dâi - vernacular.

• Puxian Min
  • (Putian)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: so⁵
    • Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: seō
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬo¹¹/
  • (Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: so⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬo²¹/
  • (Putian)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: dai⁵
    • Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: dāi
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tai¹¹/
  • (Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: dai⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tai²¹/

Note:

• so5 - literary;
• dai5 - vernacular.

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Zhangpu, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Yilan, Magong, Taichung)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sū
    • Tâi-lô: sū
    • Phofsit Daibuun: su
    • Sinological IPA (Zhangpu, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Yilan): /su³³/
    • Sinological IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou): /su²²/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Sanxia, Kinmen, Hsinchu)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sīr
    • Tâi-lô: sīr
    • Sinological IPA (Quanzhou): /sɯ⁴¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Kinmen): /sɯ²²/
  • (Hokkien: Lukang)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sǐr
    • Tâi-lô: sǐr
    • Sinological IPA (Lukang): /sɨ³³/
  • (Hokkien: Jinjiang, Philippines)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sī
    • Tâi-lô: sī
    • Phofsit Daibuun: si
    • Sinological IPA (Jinjiang, Philippines): /si⁴¹/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tāi
    • Tâi-lô: tāi
    • Phofsit Daibuun: dai
    • Sinological IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung): /tai³³/
    • Sinological IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /tai⁴¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou): /tai²²/

Note:

• sū/sīr/sǐr/sī - literary;
• tāi - vernacular (usually written 代).

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: se⁷ / se⁶ / dai⁷
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: sṳ̄ / sṳ̆ / tāi
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɯ¹¹/, /sɯ³⁵/, /tai¹¹/

Note:

• se6 - “to serve”;
• dai7 - vernacular.

• (Leizhou)
  • Leizhou Pinyin: su⁷
  • Sinological IPA: /su⁵⁵/
• Southern Pinghua
  • (Nanning Pinghua, Tingzi)
    • Jyutping++: sai⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /səi²²/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai, Jiading, Songjiang, Chongming, Chuansha, Suzhou, Kunshan, Changzhou, Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan)
    • Wugniu: ⁶zy
    • MiniDict: zy^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³zr
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zz̩²³/
    • Sinological IPA (Jiading): /zz̩¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Songjiang): /zz̩¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Chongming): /szz̩³¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Chuansha): /zz̩¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /zz̩²³¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Kunshan): /zz̩²¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Changzhou): /zz̩²⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Jiaxing): /zz̩¹¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Hangzhou): /zz̩¹¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Shaoxing): /zz̩¹¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Ningbo): /zz̩¹¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Zhoushan): /zz̩¹³/
  • (Jinhua)
    • Wugniu: ⁶zy
    • Sinological IPA (Jinhua): /zz̩¹⁴/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: sr⁵ / sr⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩²¹/, /sz̩⁴⁵/

Note:

• sr5 - vernacular;
• sr4 - literary.

• (Hengyang)
  • Wiktionary: sr⁵
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /z̥z̩²¹³/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 事
Mandarin	Beijing	/ʂʐ̩⁵¹/
	Harbin	/ʂʐ̩⁵³/
	Tianjin	/sz̩⁵³/
	Jinan	/ʂʐ̩²¹/
	Qingdao	/ʂʐ̩⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/ʂʐ̩³¹²/
	Xi'an	/sz̩⁴⁴/
	Xining	/sz̩²¹³/
	Yinchuan	/ʂʐ̩¹³/
	Lanzhou	/ʂʐ̩¹³/
	Ürümqi	/sz̩²¹³/
	Wuhan	/sz̩³⁵/
	Chengdu	/sz̩¹³/
	Guiyang	/sz̩²¹³/
	Kunming	/sz̩²¹²/
	Nanjing	/sz̩⁴⁴/
	Hefei	/sz̩⁵³/
Jin	Taiyuan	/sz̩⁴⁵/
	Pingyao	/sz̩³⁵/
	Hohhot	/sz̩⁵⁵/
Wu	Shanghai	/zz̩²³/
	Suzhou	/zz̩³¹/
	Hangzhou	/zz̩¹³/
	Wenzhou	/zz̩²²/
Hui	Shexian	/sz̩²²/
	Tunxi	/sz̩¹¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/sz̩⁵⁵/ /sz̩¹¹/
	Xiangtan	/sz̩²¹/
Gan	Nanchang	/sz̩²¹/
Hakka	Meixian	/sz̩⁵³/
	Taoyuan	/sï⁵⁵/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/si²²/
	Nanning	/sz̩²²/
	Hong Kong	/si²²/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/su²²/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/søy²⁴²/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/su⁴⁴/ /si³³/ 名 /ti⁴⁴/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/sɯ³¹/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/si³³/

---

• Middle Chinese: dzriH

Rime
Character	事
Reading #	2/2
Initial (聲)	崇 (20)
Final (韻)	之 (19)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	鉏吏切
Baxter	dzriH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/d͡ʒɨH/
Pan Wuyun	/ɖ͡ʐɨH/
Shao Rongfen	/d͡ʒieH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɖ͡ʐɨH/
Li Rong	/d͡ʒiəH/
Wang Li	/d͡ʒĭəH/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ɖ͡ʐʱiH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	zhì
Expected Cantonese Reflex	zi6

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*[m-s-]rəʔ-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*zrɯs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	事
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shì
Middle Chinese	‹ dzriH ›
Old Chinese	/*[m-s-]rəʔ-s/
English	serve; service, affair
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	事
Reading #	2/2
No.	11486
Phonetic component	史
Rime group	之
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	事
Old Chinese	/*zrɯs/
Notes	史吏轉註字

Definitions

事

1. thing; matter (Classifier: 件 m c; 樁／桩 m; 回 m; 條／条 mn-t)

   唔係咩大件事 [Cantonese, trad.]
   唔系咩大件事 [Cantonese, simp.]

   m⁴ hai⁶ me¹ daai⁶ gin⁶ si⁶ [Jyutping]

   is not anything terribly important

   (literally, “is not any sort of large matter”)

   到底係咩回事呀？ [Cantonese, trad.]
   到底系咩回事呀？ [Cantonese, simp.]

   dou³ dai² hai⁶ me¹ wui⁴ si⁶ aa³? [Jyutping]

   What happened? / Exactly what is happening?

   (literally, “Exactly what matter is it?”)

   • 耶和華神對女人說，你作的是什麼事呢？女人說，那蛇引誘我，我就吃了。 [MSC, trad.]
     耶和华神对女人说，你作的是什么事呢？女人说，那蛇引诱我，我就吃了。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 新標點和合本 (Chinese Union Version with New Punctuation), 創世記 (Genesis) 2:7

     Yēhéhuá shén duì nǚrén shuō, nǐ zuò de shì shénme shì ne? Nǚrén shuō, nà shé yǐnyòu wǒ, wǒ jiù chī le. [Pinyin]

     And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

   • 今日我們傳你來，有遵旨問你的事。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     今日我们传你来，有遵旨问你的事。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18^th century CE

     Jīnrì wǒmen chuán nǐ lái, yǒu zūnzhǐ wèn nǐ de shì. [Pinyin]

     We called you here today, because we'd like to follow the emperor's order and ask you some things.

2. task; work; job; career

   • 茅盾的一個親戚，想到我在教書的教會學校裡來找事做了。 [MSC, trad.]
     茅盾的一个亲戚，想到我在教书的教会学校里来找事做了。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1935 April, 魏金枝, 《再說“賣文”》, in 《文飯小品》, issue 3

     Máo Dùn de yīge qīnqī, xiǎng dào wǒ zài jiāoshū de jiàohuì xuéxiào lǐ lái zhǎo shì zuò le. [Pinyin]

     A relative of Mao Dun would like to find work in the Catholic school that I teach at.

3. misfortune; mishap; accident; incident

   惹事  ―  rěshì  ―  to cause trouble

   你冇事就好。 [Cantonese, trad. and simp.]

   nei⁵ mou⁵ si⁶ zau⁶ hou². [Jyutping]

   I am glad to see that you are fine.

4. responsibility; involvement

   這裡沒你的事。／这里没你的事。  ―  Zhèlǐ méi nǐ de shì.  ―  You have no business here.

   唔關我事㗎／唔关我事㗎 [Cantonese]  ―  m⁴ gwaan¹ ngo⁵ si⁶ gaa³ [Jyutping]  ―  It has nothing to do with me!

5. (dialectal Hakka, Northern Min, Central Min) speech; words; language

   建甌事／建瓯事 [Northern Min]  ―  Gṳ̿ing-é-dī [Kienning Colloquial Romanized]  ―  Jian'ou dialect

6. (literary) to serve; to attend to someone

   • 李嶠，字巨山，趙州贊皇人。早孤，事母孝。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     李峤，字巨山，赵州赞皇人。早孤，事母孝。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: The New Book of Tang, 1060 CE

     Lǐ Qiáo, zì Jùshān, Zhàozhōu Zànhuáng rén. Zǎo gū, shì mǔ xiào. [Pinyin]

     Li Qiao, courtesy name Jushan, was a native of Zanhuang, Zhaozhou. His father died when he was young, and he served his mother with filial piety.

   • 1930, “讓我愛 [Let Me Love and Not Be Respected]”, 倪柝聲 [Watchman Nee] (lyrics):

     讓我愛而不受感戴，讓我事而不受賞賜。 [MSC, trad.]
     让我爱而不受感戴，让我事而不受赏赐。 [MSC, simp.]

     Ràng wǒ ài ér bù shòu gǎndài, ràng wǒ shì ér bù shòu shǎngcì. [Pinyin]

     Let me love and not be respected;
     Let me serve and not be rewarded.

   • 有時走天堂窄路或會有困苦，忠心事主一生都蒙福。 [MSC, trad.]
     有时走天堂窄路或会有困苦，忠心事主一生都蒙福。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1984 [1986], Frank C. Huston, translated by 劉福羣 [William C. Newbern] and 何統雄 [Richard Ho], revised by 滕近輝 [Philip Teng], 《事主蒙福》 [“It Pays to Serve Jesus”], in 《生命聖詩》 [Hymns of Life], song #478

     Yǒushí zǒu tiāntáng zhǎilù huò huì yǒu kùnkǔ, zhōngxīn shì Zhǔ yīshēng dōu méngfú. [Pinyin]

     Though the pathway to glory may sometimes be drear, You’ll be happy each step of the way. [original English lyrics]
     Walking on the narrow road to Heaven may sometimes be miserable, You’ll be blessed all your life serving the Lord faithfully. [literal English translation]

7. to be engaged in

   不事生產／不事生产  ―  bù shì shēngchǎn  ―  to lead an idle life

8. (Beijing Mandarin, erhua-ed) fussy; pernickety; troublesome

   他這人特事兒。／他这人特事儿。  ―  Tā zhè rén tè shìr.  ―  He is a very fussy person.

9. 27th tetragram of the Taixuanjing; "duties" (𝌠)

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 事情 (“affair; matter”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		事
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		事情, 事
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	事兒
	Taiwan	事
	Malaysia	事
	Singapore	事情, 事
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	事兒
Central Plains Mandarin	Xi'an	事情, 事
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	事情, 事
	Wuhan	事情, 事
	Guilin	事情, 事
Jianghuai Mandarin	Yangzhou	事情, 事
	Hefei	事
Cantonese	Guangzhou	事, 事幹
	Hong Kong	事, 事幹
	Yangjiang	事, 事幹
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	事
	Penang (Guangfu)	事
	Singapore (Guangfu)	事
Gan	Nanchang	事
Hakka	Meixian	事情, 事
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	事情
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	事情
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	事情
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	事情
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	事情
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	事情
Jin	Taiyuan	事情, 事
Northern Min	Jian'ou	事
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	事計, 事
	Minqing	事計
	Singapore (Fuqing)	事計
Southern Min	Xiamen	代誌, 物件
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	代誌
	Quanzhou	代誌
	Jinjiang	代誌
	Shishi	代誌
	Zhangzhou	代誌, 物件
	Zhao'an	事
	Dongshan	代誌
	Taipei	代誌
	Kaohsiung	代誌
	Yilan	代誌
	Changhua (Lukang)	代誌
	Taichung	代誌
	Taichung (Wuqi)	代誌
	Tainan	代誌
	Taitung	代誌
	Hsinchu	代誌
	Penghu (Magong)	代誌
	Penang (Hokkien)	代誌
	Singapore (Hokkien)	代誌
	Manila (Hokkien)	代誌
	Chaozhou	事
	Shantou	事
	Jieyang	事
	Haifeng	事
	Singapore (Teochew)	事
	Wenchang	事
	Qionghai	事
	Singapore (Hainanese)	事
Puxian Min	Putian	事體, 代誌, 出數
	Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang)	事體, 代誌
	Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang)	事體, 代誌
	Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu)	事體, 代誌
	Xianyou	事體, 代誌, 出數
	Xianyou (Fengting)	事體, 代誌
	Xianyou (Youyang)	事體, 代誌
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	事幹
Wu	Shanghai	事體
	Suzhou	事體
	Hangzhou	花頭
	Hangzhou (Yuhang)	事體
	Shaoxing	事體
	Ningbo	事體, 事幹 dated
	Zhoushan	事體, 事幹 dated
	Wenzhou	事幹
	Jinhua	事幹
	Jinhua (Tangxi)	事幹
	Yiwu	事幹
	Dongyang	事幹
	Wuyi	事幹
	Lanxi	事幹
Xiang	Changsha	路徑, 路, 路子徑, 路子, 事
	Shuangfeng	道路, 事

Compounds

• 一事 (yīshì)
• 七事兒 / 七事儿
• 七件事
• 三事
• 不中事
• 不事
• 不妨事
• 不抵事
• 不睹事
• 不良事濟 / 不良事济
• 不識事 / 不识事
• 世事 (shìshì)
• 並無此事 / 并无此事
• 主事 (zhǔshì)
• 亂事 / 乱事
• 了事 (liǎoshì)
• 事不宜遲 / 事不宜迟 (shìbùyíchí)
• 事不有餘 / 事不有余
• 事不過三 / 事不过三 (shìbùguòsān)
• 事主 (shìzhǔ)
• 事事 (shìshì)
• 事以密成
• 事件 (shìjiàn)
• 事例 (shìlì)
• 事倍功半 (shìbèi-gōngbàn)
• 事假 (shìjià)
• 事先 (shìxiān)
• 事出不意
• 事出不測 / 事出不测
• 事出有因 (shìchūyǒuyīn)
• 事到如今 (shìdàorújīn)
• 事到臨頭 / 事到临头
• 事前 (shìqián)
• 事功 (shìgōng)
• 事務 / 事务 (shìwù)
• 事勢 / 事势 (shìshì)
• 事半功倍 (shìbàn-gōngbèi)
• 事危累卵
• 事因
• 事在人為 / 事在人为 (shìzàirénwéi)
• 事在必行
• 事奉 (shìfèng)
• 事宜 (shìyí)
• 事實 / 事实 (shìshí)
• 事後 / 事后 (shìhòu)
• 事從 / 事从
• 事必躬親 / 事必躬亲 (shìbìgōngqīn)
• 事急 (shìjí)
• 事情
• 事態 / 事态 (shìtài)
• 事故 (shìgù)
• 事敗垂成 / 事败垂成
• 事文類聚 / 事文类聚
• 事業 / 事业 (shìyè)
• 事機 / 事机 (shìjī)
• 事權 / 事权
• 事無大小 / 事无大小 (shìwúdàxiǎo)
• 事物 (shìwù)
• 事理 (shìlǐ)
• 事生肘腋
• 事產 / 事产
• 事由 (shìyóu)
• 事畜
• 事略 (shìlüè)
• 事端 (shìduān)
• 事節 / 事节
• 事緩則圓 / 事缓则圆
• 事與願違 / 事与愿违 (shìyǔyuànwéi)
• 事親至孝 / 事亲至孝
• 事變 / 事变 (shìbiàn)
• 事跡 / 事迹 (shìjì)
• 事蹟 / 事迹 (shìjì)
• 事過境遷 / 事过境迁 (shìguòjìngqiān)
• 事關重大 / 事关重大
• 事項 / 事项 (shìxiàng)
• 事頭 / 事头 (shìtóu)
• 事類 / 事类
• 事體 / 事体 (shìtǐ)
• 人事 (rénshì)
• 人浮於事 / 人浮于事 (rénfúyúshì)
• 他事 (tāshì)
• 他家的事
• 任事 (rènshì)
• 伏事 (fúshì)
• 仰事俯畜
• 佛事 (fóshì)
• 佚事 (yìshì)
• 何事 (héshì)
• 供事 (gòngshì)
• 來事兒 / 来事儿 (láishìr)
• 俗事
• 侵事
• 個事 / 个事
• 做事 (zuòshì)
• 做出事來 / 做出事来
• 僉事 / 佥事
• 傻事 (shǎshì)
• 僨事 / 偾事 (fènshì)
• 僻事
• 僵事
• 內事 / 内事
• 兩事家 / 两事家
• 兩碼事 / 两码事 (liǎngmǎshì)
• 公事 (gōngshì)
• 共事 (gòngshì)
• 兵事 (bīngshì)
• 冬事
• 凡事 (fánshì)
• 凶事 (xiōngshì)
• 出事 (chūshì)
• 刑事 (xíngshì)
• 判事 (pànshì)
• 前事 (qiánshì)
• 功事
• 動事 / 动事
• 勝事 / 胜事
• 千古事
• 即事 (jíshì)
• 厭事 / 厌事
• 去事
• 參事 / 参事 (cānshì)
• 受事 (shòushì)
• 可事 (kěshì)
• 司事 (sīshì)
• 古事記 / 古事记 (Gǔshìjì)
• 另碼事 / 另码事
• 同事 (tóngshì)
• 各司其事
• 周事
• 和事佬 (héshìlǎo)
• 和事天子
• 和事老
• 問事 / 问事
• 商事 (shāngshì)
• 喪事 / 丧事 (sāngshì)
• 善事 (shànshì)
• 喜事 (xǐshì)
• 回事
• 因事制宜
• 圃事
• 國事 / 国事 (guóshì)
• 土事
• 堂事
• 執事 / 执事 (zhíshì)
• 報事人 / 报事人
• 報事靈童 / 报事灵童
• 塵事 / 尘事 (chénshì)
• 壓事 / 压事
• 壞事 / 坏事 (huàishì)
• 外事 (wàishì)
• 多事 (duōshì)
• 夢事 / 梦事
• 大事 (dàshì)
• 大快之事
• 大節目事 / 大节目事
• 天下事
• 太平無事 / 太平无事
• 失事 (shīshì)
• 奉事 (fèngshì)
• 奇事 (qíshì)
• 女事 (nǚshì)
• 好事
• 妙事
• 姻事
• 婚事 (hūnshì)
• 孝事
• 安然無事 / 安然无事
• 完事 (wánshì)
• 官事
• 家事 (jiāshì)
• 害事
• 家務事 / 家务事
• 寒事
• 實事 / 实事 (shíshì)
• 封事
• 將事 / 将事
• 尋事 / 寻事
• 小事 (xiǎoshì)
• 小差事兒 / 小差事儿
• 就事 (jiùshì)
• 屬辭比事 / 属辞比事
• 工事 (gōngshì)
• 巧事 (qiǎoshì)
• 差事
• 師事 / 师事 (shīshì)
• 常事 (chángshì)
• 平安無事 / 平安无事 (píng'ānwúshì)
• 平白無事 / 平白无事
• 年事 (niánshì)
• 幹事 / 干事
• 幾事 / 几事
• 底事
• 廳事 / 厅事
• 弔腳兒事 / 吊脚儿事
• 張大其事 / 张大其事
• 彌事 / 弥事
• 影事
• 往事 (wǎngshì)
• 後事 / 后事 (hòushì)
• 從事 / 从事 (cóngshì)
• 得意之事
• 心事 (xīnshì)
• 心想事成 (xīnxiǎngshìchéng)
• 心腹事 (xīnfùshì)
• 志事 (zhìshì)
• 快事
• 怪事 (guàishì)
• 急事 (jíshì)
• 怕事 (pàshì)
• 恨事 (hènshì)
• 恤事
• 息事寧人 / 息事宁人 (xīshìníngrén)
• 情事 (qíngshì)
• 情隨事遷 / 情随事迁 (qíngsuíshìqiān)
• 惹事 (rěshì)
• 感事
• 慎重其事
• 慮事 / 虑事
• 慘事 / 惨事 (cǎnshì)
• 懂事 (dǒngshì)
• 憾事 (hànshì)
• 懺事 / 忏事
• 成事 (chéngshì)
• 戎事
• 戰事 / 战事 (zhànshì)
• 戳事
• 所事
• 房事 (fángshì)
• 抄事
• 投事
• 找事 (zhǎoshì)
• 招事
• 指事 (zhǐshì)
• 拿事 (náshì)
• 捉事人
• 接事 (jiēshì)
• 推事 (tuīshì)
• 探事人
• 損事 / 损事
• 擇主而事 / 择主而事 (zézhǔ'érshì)
• 擇人而事 / 择人而事
• 攬事 / 揽事
• 政事 (zhèngshì)
• 故事
• 敗事 / 败事 (bàishì)
• 敘事 / 叙事 (xùshì)
• 啟事 / 启事 (qǐshì)
• 敬事
• 料事
• 斯事體大 / 斯事体大
• 新鮮事 / 新鲜事
• 斷事 / 断事
• 於事無濟 / 于事无济
• 於事無補 / 于事无补 (yúshìwúbǔ)
• 日事錢 / 日事钱
• 是事
• 春事
• 時事 / 时事 (shíshì)
• 時異事殊 / 时异事殊
• 時移事改 / 时移事改
• 時移事遷 / 时移事迁
• 暗事 (ànshì)
• 暢事 / 畅事
• 曉事 / 晓事 (xiǎoshì)
• 更事 (gēngshì)
• 會事 / 会事
• 月事 (yuèshì)
• 有事 (yǒushì)
• 有志者事竟成 (yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng)
• 服事 (fúshì)
• 本事
• 末事
• 本分事
• 東窗事發 / 东窗事发 (dōngchuāngshìfā)
• 枉道事人
• 案事
• 樂事 / 乐事 (lèshì)
• 橫事 / 横事
• 機事 / 机事
• 欠事
• 正事 (zhèngshì)
• 此事體大 / 此事体大
• 武事 (wǔshì)
• 歲事 / 岁事
• 歹事 (dǎishì)
• 死事
• 每事問 / 每事问 (měishìwèn)
• 比肩而事
• 民事 (mínshì)
• 求事
• 沒事 / 没事 (méishì)
• 沒渾過事 / 没浑过事
• 沒頭事 / 没头事
• 法事 (fǎshì)
• 海事 (hǎishì)
• 浪事
• 涉事 (shèshì)
• 混事
• 滋事 (zīshì)
• 渾閑事 / 浑闲事
• 濟事 / 济事 (jìshì)
• 炊事 (chuīshì)
• 無事忙 / 无事忙
• 無事生非 / 无事生非 (wúshìshēngfēi)
• 無事生風 / 无事生风
• 無价事
• 無濟於事 / 无济于事 (wújìyúshì)
• 無補於事 / 无补于事 (wúbǔyúshì)
• 煞有介事 (shàyǒujièshì)
• 熟事 (shúshì)
• 燈事 / 灯事
• 物事 (wùshì)
• 犯事 (fànshì)
• 獃事 / 呆事
• 王事 (wángshì)
• 玉成其事
• 理事 (lǐshì)
• 理屈事窮 / 理屈事穷
• 瑣事 / 琐事 (suǒshì)
• 甚事
• 生事 (shēngshì)
• 用事 (yòngshì)
• 異事 / 异事 (yìshì)
• 當事 / 当事
• 疙瘩事
• 白事 (báishì)
• 百事 (bǎishì)
• 盛事 (shèngshì)
• 監事 / 监事 (jiānshì)
• 直道事人
• 省事
• 相安無事 / 相安无事 (xiāng'ānwúshì)
• 真事 (zhēnshì)
• 矇事 / 蒙事
• 知事 (zhīshì)
• 確有其事 / 确有其事 (quèyǒuqíshì)
• 礙事 / 碍事 (àishì)
• 祀事
• 視事 / 视事 (shìshì)
• 禍事 / 祸事 (huòshì)
• 萬事 / 万事 (wànshì)
• 私事 (sīshì)
• 秋事
• 稍事
• 穡事 / 穑事
• 空頭事 / 空头事
• 立事
• 竣事
• 管事 (guǎnshì)
• 糗事 (qiǔshì)
• 紅事 / 红事 (hóngshì)
• 紀事 / 纪事 (jìshì)
• 細事 / 细事
• 給事中 / 给事中
• 結髮事師 / 结发事师
• 經事 / 经事 (jīngshì)
• 緝事 / 缉事
• 繪事後素 / 绘事后素
• 繼志述事 / 继志述事
• 罕事
• 置身事外 (zhìshēnshìwài)
• 美事 (měishì)
• 聽事 / 听事
• 肇事 (zhàoshì)
• 能事
• 臨事以懼 / 临事以惧
• 臨事而懼 / 临事而惧
• 舉事 / 举事 (jǔshì)
• 舊事 / 旧事 (jiùshì)
• 舍本事末
• 花事
• 苦事
• 若有其事
• 若無其事 / 若无其事 (ruòwúqíshì)
• 茲事體大 / 兹事体大
• 董事 (dǒngshì)
• 蓋棺事定 / 盖棺事定
• 蕆事 / 蒇事
• 處事 / 处事 (chǔshì)
• 蠶事 / 蚕事
• 行事 (xíngshì)
• 行所無事 / 行所无事
• 行若無事 / 行若无事 (xíngruòwúshì)
• 行隨事遷 / 行随事迁
• 襄事
• 要事 (yàoshì)
• 見事風生 / 见事风生
• 親事 / 亲事 (qīnshì)
• 解事
• 觸事面牆 / 触事面墙
• 言事若神
• 記事 / 记事 (jìshì)
• 許事 / 许事
• 訟事 / 讼事 (sòngshì)
• 訪事 / 访事
• 評事 / 评事
• 詹事
• 詢事考言 / 询事考言
• 說事 / 说事
• 誤事 / 误事 (wùshì)
• 論事 / 论事
• 請事 / 请事
• 諳事 / 谙事
• 謀事 / 谋事 (móushì)
• 謀泄事露
• 議事 / 议事 (yìshì)
• 象事
• 費事 / 费事 (fèishì)
• 賤事 / 贱事
• 起事 (qǐshì)
• 趣事 (qùshì)
• 踵事增華 / 踵事增华
• 軍事 / 军事 (jūnshì)
• 軼事 / 轶事 (yìshì)
• 輕事重報 / 轻事重报
• 辦事 / 办事 (bànshì)
• 農事 / 农事 (nóngshì)
• 逆事
• 送往事居
• 通事 (tōngshì)
• 通功易事
• 這號事 / 这号事
• 逸事 (yìshì)
• 遂事
• 遇事生風 / 遇事生风
• 選事 / 选事
• 遺事 / 遗事 (yíshì)
• 鄙事
• 鄭重其事 / 郑重其事
• 醜事 / 丑事 (chǒushì)
• 金三事兒 / 金三事儿
• 錄事 / 录事
• 閒事 / 闲事 (xiánshì)
• 閒來無事 / 闲来无事 (xiánláiwúshì)
• 闖事 / 闯事
• 阿尊事貴 / 阿尊事贵
• 陰事 / 阴事
• 陳事 / 陈事 (chénshì)
• 隨事 / 随事
• 雜事 / 杂事 (záshì)
• 難事 / 难事 (nánshì)
• 非常之事
• 非軍事區 / 非军事区 (fēijūnshìqū)
• 靦顏事仇 / 䩄颜事仇
• 韻事 / 韵事 (yùnshì)
• 頂事 / 顶事 (dǐngshì)
• 順事 / 顺事
• 領事 / 领事 (lǐngshì)
• 風流事 / 风流事
• 風流佳事 / 风流佳事
• 風火事 / 风火事
• 風聞言事 / 风闻言事
• 食少事煩 / 食少事烦
• 餘事 / 余事
• 餓死事小，失節事大 / 饿死事小，失节事大 (èsǐ shì xiǎo, shījié shì dà)
• 首事 (shǒushì)
• 高枕無事 / 高枕无事
• 鬧事 / 闹事 (nàoshì)
• 麼子事 / 么子事

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (事):

• → Japanese: 事(じ) (ji)
• → Korean: 사(事) (sa)
• → Vietnamese: sự (事)

Pronunciation 2

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): zì (zi⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄗˋ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: zì
    • Zhuyin: ㄗˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: zìh
    • Wade–Giles: tzŭ⁴
    • Yale: dz̀
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tzyh
    • Palladius: цзы (czy)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sz̩⁵¹/

---

• Middle Chinese: tsriH

Rime
Character	事
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	莊 (18)
Final (韻)	之 (19)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	側吏切
Baxter	tsriH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/t͡ʃɨH/
Pan Wuyun	/ʈ͡ʂɨH/
Shao Rongfen	/t͡ʃieH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ʈ͡ʂɨH/
Li Rong	/t͡ʃiəH/
Wang Li	/t͡ʃĭəH/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ʈ͡ʂiH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	zhì
Expected Cantonese Reflex	zi3

• Old Chinese

  (Zhengzhang): /*ʔsrɯs/

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	事
Reading #	1/2
No.	11485
Phonetic component	史
Rime group	之
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	胾
Old Chinese	/*ʔsrɯs/
Notes	見漢書又作剚倳

Definitions

事

1. alternative form of 倳 (zì, “to establish”)
2. alternative form of 剚 (zì, “to stab”)

References

• “事”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A00048

Japanese

Kanji

事

(Third grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: じ (ji, Jōyō)
• Kan-on: し (shi)
• Kan’yō-on: ず (zu, Jōyō ^†)
• Kun: こと (koto, 事, Jōyō)、つかう (tsukau, 事う)^{←つかふ (tukafu, 事ふ, historical)}、つかえる (tsukaeru, 事える)^{←つかへる (tukaferu, 事へる, historical)}
• Nanori: ろ (ro)

As an alternative form of 倳 and 剚:

• Go-on: し (shi)
• Kan-on: し (shi)
• Kun: さす (sasu, 事す)、たてる (tateru, 事てる)

Compounds

Compounds

• 事(じ)案(あん) (jian, “a concern”)
• 事(じ)宜(ぎ) (jigi, “a fitting thing”)
• 事(じ)業(ぎょう) (jigyō, “a project, an enterprise”)
• 事(じ)局(きょく) (jikyoku, “circumstances”)
• 事(じ)件(けん) (jiken, “an event, an affair”)
• 事(じ)故(こ) (jiko, “an accident, an incident”)
• 事(じ)後(ご) (jigo, “after-, post-, after the fact”)
• 事(じ)項(こう) (jikō, “matters, articles”)
• 事(じ)実(じつ) (jijitsu, “a fact, the truth, actuality”)
• 事々(じじ)物々(ぶつぶつ) (jijibutsubutsu), 事事(じじ)物物(ぶつぶつ) (jijibutsubutsu, “everything”)
• 事(じ)象(しょう) (jishō, “an event, a phenomenon”)
• 事(じ)情(じょう) (jijō, “circumstances, consideration”)
• 事(じ)績(せき) (jiseki, “an achievement, an exploit”)
• 事(じ)迹(せき) (jiseki), 事(じ)跡(せき) (jiseki), 事(じ)蹟(せき) (jiseki, “evidence, trace”)
• 事(じ)前(ぜん) (jizen, “prior, beforehand”)
• 事(じ)相(そう) (jisō, “an aspect, a phase”)
• 事(じ)態(たい) (jitai), 事(じ)体(たい) (jitai, “a situation, a state of affairs”)
• 事(じ)大(だい) (jidai, “subservient to the stronger”)
• 事(じ)典(てん) (jiten, “an encyclopedia”)
• 事(じ)犯(はん) (jihan, “a crime”)
• 事(じ)物(ぶつ) (jibutsu, “things, affairs”)
• 事(じ)変(へん) (jihen, “an accident, a disaster”)
• 事(じ)務(む) (jimu, “business, clerical work”)
• 事(じ)務(む)室(しつ) (jimushitsu, “an office”)
• 事(じ)由(ゆう) (jiyū, “a reason, a cause”)
• 事(じ)理(り) (jiri, “a reason, facts”)
• 事(じ)例(れい) (jirei, “an example, a precedent”)
• 火(か)事(じ) (kaji, “a fire, a conflagration”)
• 家(か)事(じ) (kaji, “household affairs”)
• 幹(かん)事(じ) (kanji, “a manager, an organizer”)
• 記(き)事(じ) (kiji, “a news article, a news story”)
• 軍(ぐん)事(じ) (gunji, “military affairs”)
• 刑(けい)事(じ) (keiji, “a police detective”)
• 工(こう)事(じ) (kōji, “construction”)
• 食(しょく)事(じ) (shokuji, “a meal”)
• 人(じん)事(じ) (jinji, “personnel, human resources”)
• 知(ち)事(じ) (chiji, “a prefectural governor”)
• 判(はん)事(じ) (hanji, “a judge”)
• 人(ひと)事(ごと) (hitogoto, “other people's affairs, other people's business”)
• 無(ぶ)事(じ) (buji, “safety, peace”)
• 返(へん)事(じ) (henji, “an answer, a reply”)
• 房(ぼう)事(じ) (bōji, “sex, lovemaking”)
• 物(もの)事(ごと) (monogoto, “things, everything”)
• 用(よう)事(じ) (yōji, “things to do”)
• 理(り)事(じ) (riji, “a director, a trustee”)
• 領(りょう)事(じ) (ryōji, “a consul”)
• 事(こと)新(あたら)しい (koto atarashī, “new”)
• 事(こと)誤(あやま)り (koto ayamari, “getting one's facts wrong”)
• 事(こと)改(あらた)めて (koto aratamete, “anew”)
• 事(こと)欠(か)く (kotokaku, “to lack something”)
• 事(こと)柄(がら) (kotogara, “a matter, a thing”)
• 事(こと)切(き)れる (koto kireru, “to expire, to die”)
• 事(こと)々(ごと) (kotogoto), 事(こと)事(ごと) (kotogoto, “everything”)
• 事(こと)々(ごと)しい (kotogotoshī), 事(こと)事(ごと)しい (kotogotoshī, “bombastic”)
• 事(こと)細(こま)か (koto komaka, “detailed”)
• 事(こと)立(だ)てる (kotodateru, “to do something different”)
• 事(こと)足(た)りる (koto tariru, “to suffice, to be sufficient”)
• 事(こと)足(た)る (koto taru, “to suffice, to be enough”)
• 事(こと)共(ども) (kotodomo, “things, matters”)
• 事(こと)無(な)し (koto nashi, “having nothing to do; light-hearted; having no faults”)
• 事(こと)勿(なか)れ (koto nakare, “a desire for peacefulness and nothing out of the ordinary”)
• 事(こと)勿(なか)れ主(しゅ)義(ぎ) (koto nakare shugi, “peace-at-any-price-ism, don't-rock-the-boat-ism, the principle of acceding to anything to avoid trouble”)
• 事(こと)無(な)く (koto naku, “without accident, without incident, without a hitch”)
• 事(こと)珍(めずら)しく (koto mezurashiku, “strangely, oddly”)
• 事(こと)寄(よ)せる (koto yoseru), 言(こと)寄(よ)せる (koto yoseru, “to use something as an excuse or pretext”)
• 事(こと)寄(よ)る (koto yoru, “to have facts or events wind up pointing one way”)
• 仕(し)事(ごと) (shigoto, “work, employment”)
• 見(み)事(ごと) (migoto), 美(み)事(ごと) (migoto, “splendid, magnificent”)
• 好事家(こうずか) (kōzuka, “a dilettante”)
• 関(かん)心(しん)事(じ) (kanshinji, “a matter of concern and interest”)
• 勝(しょう)負(ぶ)事(ごと) (shōbugoto, “gambling, competition”)
• 出(で)来(き)事(ごと) (dekigoto, “an occurrence, an affair, an accident”)
• 事 (ji, “matters; affairs”) occur in a few compounds that were originally about the matters or affairs themselves, or an action upon those matters or affairs, but evolved into referring to the person doing something to the matters or affairs.
  • 主(しゅ)事(じ) (shuji, “superintendent”, literally “main matters”)
  • 刑(けい)事(じ) (keiji, “criminal detective”, literally “law enforcement/penal matters”)
  • 判(はん)事(じ) (hanji, “judge; justice”, literally “to judge matters”)
  • 参(さん)事(じ) (sanji, “secretary; counsellor; councillor”, literally “to attend to matters”)
  • 執(しつ)事(じ) (shitsuji, “steward; butler”, literally “to execute matters”)
  • 幹(かん)事(じ) (kanji, “manager; secretary”, literally “to perform matters”)
  • 検(けん)事(じ) (kenji, “prosecutor”, literally “to inspect matters”)
  • 理(り)事(じ) (riji, “director”, literally “to arrange matters”)
  • 知(ち)事(じ) (chiji, “prefectural governor”, literally “governing matters”)
  • 通(つう)事(じ) (tsūji, “interpreter”, literally “to smooth out matters”)
  • 領(りょう)事(じ) (ryōji, “consul”, literally “to take/accept matters”)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
事
こと Grade: 3
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 事 – see the following entry.

【こと】 [noun] broadly, any abstract thing, affair, matter, or fact [noun] a thing, occasion, circumstances, detail, particular [noun] act of (word used for the nominalization of verbs, adjectives, or phrases) [noun] (by extension) experience, having been or done (used with ある (aru, “have, possess”)) [noun] event of special importance: affair, something, incident, case, occurrence, trouble [noun] business matters, affairs, business, work, duty [noun] Used as a nominalizer for precepts. [noun] It is said that; I've heard that (used with とのこと) [noun] Used to introduce aliases/stage names. Alternative spellings 亊, 縡, ヿ

(This term, 事, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
事
じ Grade: 3
goon

From Middle Chinese 事 (MC dzriH, “thing, matter; task, job”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑi]

Affix

事(じ) • (ji) 

1. thing
2. work, job, business
3. to serve, to work for

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
事
こと > ごと Grade: 3
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 事 – see the following entry.

【ごと】 [suffix] nominalizer for an action

(This term, 事, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

References

• “事”, in 漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎^[2] (in Japanese), The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, 2015–2026

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 事 (MC dzriH).

Historical readings

• Recorded as Middle Korean ᄊᆞ〯 (ssǒ) (Yale: ssǒ) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.
• Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞ (so) (Yale: so) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [sʰa̠(ː)]
• Phonetic hangul: [사(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

事 (eumhun 일 사 (il sa))

1. hanja form^? of 사 (“thing; matter”)

Compounds

• 사건 (事件, sageon)
• 사대 (事大, sadae)
• 사력 (事力, saryeok)
• 사례 (事例, sarye)
• 사무 (事務, samu)
• 사사 (事事, sasa)
• 사세 (事勢, sase)
• 사실 (事實, sasil)
• 사전 (事典, sajeon)
• 사전 (事前, sajeon)
• 사주 (事主, saju)
• 사판 (事判, sapan)
• 사필귀정 (事必歸正, sapilgwijeong)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [3]

Vietnamese

Han character

事: Hán Việt readings: sự
事: Nôm readings: sự, xì

Noun

事 • (sự)

1. chữ Hán form of sự
   1. deed; act
   2. matter; affair; occurrence; happening

Verb

事 • (xì)

1. chữ Nôm form of xì (“to leak out, to escape”)

Compounds

• 事件 (sự kiện)
• 事實 (sự thực)
• 事故 (sự cố)
• 指事 (chỉ sự)
• 時事 (thời sự)
• 軍事 (quân sự)
• 領事 (lãnh sự)