事情

shì qing
HSK 2Noun (名)

Basic Meaning

n
A broad, commonly used word. In contexts like 'I have something to do,' it is usually said as '我有事情要做'. Here, '事情' alone implies 'something' or 'a matter.'
an affair; a matter; a situation (referring broadly to all activities and social phenomena in human life)
人类生活中的一切活动和所遇到的一切社会现象。
Synonyms:
事件事项事宜
Sentences:
  1. 今(jīn)天(tiān)发(fā)生(shēng)了(le)太(tài)多(duō)事(shì)情(qing)，我(wǒ)需(xū)要(yào)休(xiū)息(xi)一(yī)下(xià)。
    Too many things happened today, I need to take a break.
  2. 明(míng)天(tiān)的(de)会(huì)议(yì)上(shàng)，我(wǒ)们(men)会(huì)讨(tǎo)论(lùn)几(jǐ)件(jiàn)重(zhòng)要(yào)的(de)事(shì)情(qing)。
    At tomorrow's meeting, we will discuss several important matters.
n
Often used in a negative context to indicate that a problem or an unfortunate event has occurred, such as '出事情' (to have an accident/trouble) or '万一有事情' (in case something goes wrong).
trouble; mishap; something going wrong
事故；差错。
Words:
事情出错
Synonyms:
事故
Sentences:
  1. 开(kāi)车(chē)一(yī)定(dìng)要(yào)小(xiǎo)心(xīn)，千(qiān)万(wàn)别(bié)出(chū)事(shì)情(qing)。
    You must be careful when driving; make sure nothing goes wrong.
  2. 他(tā)的(de)计(jì)划(huà)看(kàn)起(qǐ)来(lái)不(bú)错(cuò)，但(dàn)我(wǒ)担(dān)心(xīn)会(huì)出(chū)事(shì)情(qing)。
    His plan looks good, but I'm worried something might go wrong.
n
Emphasizes one's job duties or tasks, often interchangeable with '工作' or '活儿'. For example, '我在忙事情' means 'I'm busy with work.'
job; work; occupation
职业；工作。
Words:
本职事情
Synonyms:
工作活儿事务
Sentences:
  1. 他(tā)正(zhèng)在(zài)处(chǔ)理(lǐ)一(yī)件(jiàn)紧(jǐn)急(jí)的(de)事(shì)情(qing)，暂(zàn)时(shí)不(bù)能(néng)接(jiē)电(diàn)话(huà)。
    He is currently dealing with an urgent work matter and can't answer the phone for now.
n
Focuses on the real facts or details of a situation. Often used with verbs like '了解' (understand), '调查' (investigate), '弄清楚' (clarify) to mean 'to get to the bottom of things.'
the actual situation; the truth of the matter
事物的实际情形。
Words:
事情真相
Sentences:
  1. 在(zài)批(pī)评(píng)别(bié)人(rén)之(zhī)前(qián)，你(nǐ)应(yīng)该(gāi)先(xiān)了(liáo)解(jiě)事(shì)情(qing)的(de)全(quán)部(bù)真(zhēn)相(xiàng)。
    Before criticizing others, you should first understand the whole truth of the matter.

Characters Breakdown

HSK 1
shì事

matter; affair; thing

HSK 2
qíng情

feeling; emotion; love