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多事 (duō shì) — to meddle, to be interfering; to be eventful; to have many incidents

Definition

A person who 多事 pokes their nose into other people's business; a period that is 多事 is full of incidents. The meddling sense pairs with 好管闲事; the 'eventful' sense is neutral.

verb
to meddleto be interferingto be eventfulto have many incidents

Examples

  • 多事，。
    Nǐ zǒng shì duō shì, ràng rén hěn fán.
    You're always meddling; it's annoying.
  • ，。
    Tā duō guò jǐ cì shì, dà jiā dōu bù xǐ huan tā.
    He has meddled a few times, so everyone doesn't like him.
  • ，。
    Zhè duàn shí guāng hěn duō shì, liú xià le xǔ duō huí yì.
    This period was eventful, leaving many memories.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

多duōhave many
事shìaffairs

多 means to have many, and 事 means affairs, giving many happenings or meddling.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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