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麻烦事 (má fan shì) — troublesome matter, nuisance

Definition

A compound noun for an annoying situation or hassle. Light and colloquial — a small problem or nuisance, not a serious crisis (难事).

noun
troublesome matternuisance
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 麻烦事。
    Chǔ lǐ zhè ge wén jiàn shì jiàn má fan shì.
    Handling this document is a troublesome matter.
  • 麻烦事。
    Bié ràng zhè zhǒng má fan shì yǐng xiǎng nǐ de xīn qíng.
    Don't let this kind of nuisance affect your mood.
  • 麻烦事。
    Měi cì chū chāi dōu huì yù dào yì xiē má fan shì.
    Every business trip I encounter some troublesome matters.

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.

麻烦troublesome
麻mátrouble烦fántroubled
联合Coordinate
事shìmatter

麻烦 means troublesome and 事 means matter, giving a troublesome matter.

Characters in this word

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

麻 combines 厂 and 𣏟 to represent hemp leaves.

Open 麻 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 煩; 烦 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 煩, the shape is made from 火 (fire) and 頁 (head).

Open 烦 →

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
Abstract Concepts

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