世情 (shì qíng) — the ways of the world; social customs and human relationships; the current world situation; global affairs; social trends; prevailing customs of the time

Definition

Literary/abstract noun for 'the ways of the world' — social customs, human relationships, and current trends viewed as a whole. Common in written or reflective contexts rather than everyday talk.

noun
the ways of the worldsocial customs and human relationshipsthe current world situationglobal affairssocial trendsprevailing customs of the time

Examples

  • ，世情。
    Tā nián jì suī xiǎo, què hěn dǒng shì qíng.
    Although he is young, he understands the ways of the world well.
  • 世情。
    Zhè běn shū fēn xī le dāng dài de shì qíng biàn huà.
    This book analyzes the changes in contemporary world affairs.
  • ，世情。
    Suí zhe jīng jì fā zhǎn, shì qíng yě zài bú duàn yǎn biàn.
    As the economy develops, social trends are also constantly evolving.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

世shìworld
情qíngaffairs

世 refers to the world or times, and 情 to its affairs or human feelings.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 世 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →

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