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始末 (shǐ mò) — the whole story, from beginning to end; the ins and outs

Definition

始末 (shǐmò) is a formal written noun meaning 'the whole story from beginning to end' of an event — used in reports or accounts, not casual speech. Almost always follows 事情的/事件的 and pairs with verbs like 了解, 讲清楚, 描述.

noun
the whole storyfrom beginning to endthe ins and outs

Examples

  • 始末。
    Tā bǎ shì qing de shǐ mò xiáng xì dì jiǎng le yí biàn.
    He explained the whole story of the matter in detail.
  • 始末。
    Diào chá bào gào zhōng xiáng xì miáo shù le shì jiàn de shǐ mò.
    The investigation report described the ins and outs of the incident in detail.
  • 始末，。
    Zhǐ yǒu liǎo jiě shì qing de shǐ mò, cái néng zuò chū zhèng què de pàn duàn.
    Only by understanding the whole story can you make a correct judgment.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

始shǐbeginning
末mòend

始 means beginning and 末 means end, so together they refer to the whole story from start to finish.

Characters in this word

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
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
台
台tái始shǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

始 is made of 女 (woman) and 台, which gives the sound.

Open 始 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

末 adds a mark at the top of a tree-like shape to show its tip or end.

Open 末 →
Appears in
Change & Process

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