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大事 (dà shì) — major event; big matter

Definition

A 'major event' or 'important matter' — anything significant like a wedding, political change, or big company decision, as opposed to 小事 ('small thing'). Often used with 件 or 桩.

noun
major eventbig matter
Measure word · 件, 桩
Easily confused

Examples

  • 大事。
    Zhè jiàn shì shì gōng sī de yí jiàn dà shì.
    This matter is a major event for the company.
  • 大事。
    Jié hūn shì rén shēng de yí jiàn dà shì.
    Getting married is a big event in one's life.
  • 大事。
    Guó jiā dà shì guān xì dào měi gè rén de shēng huó.
    National affairs affect everyone's life.

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.

大dàmajor
事shìmatter

The first character means major and the second means matter or event; together they refer to an important event.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 大 is a picture of a person standing and facing forward, not of someone stretching their arms.

Open 大 →

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
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