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完事 (wán shì) — to finish (a task), to get through (work), to come to an end

Definition

Colloquial 'to finish / wrap up (a task)' — emphasizes completion of a concrete piece of work, not an ongoing state. Often used in the pattern 完不了事 ('can't be wrapped up') to mean a matter remains unsettled.

verb
to finish (a task)to get through (work)to come to an end

Examples

  • 完事。
    Wǒ men wán shì zài zǒu ba.
    We'll leave after finishing up.
  • ，。
    Zhè jiàn shì wán bù liǎo shì, hái dé zài tǎo lùn.
    This matter can't be wrapped up; we need more discussion.
  • ，完事。
    Tā máng le yì tiān, zhōng yú wán shì le.
    He was busy all day and finally finished.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

完wánfinish
事shìmatter

完 'finish' plus 事 'matter' forms 'finish a task'.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
元
元yuán完wán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

完 pairs 宀 (roof) with 元, which gives the sound.

Open 完 →

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 →
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