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事务 (shì wù) — affairs, matters (of work, politics, etc.); transaction (in computing or business)

Definition

事务 (shìwù) refers to general 'affairs' or 'matters' — usually work, politics, or administrative tasks to be handled. Less specific than 事项 (a single item on a list) and broader than 交易 / 买卖 (which mean a commercial exchange).

noun
affairsmatters (of work, politics, etc.)transaction (in computing or business)
Measure word · 件
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tā shàn cháng chǔ lǐ rì cháng bàn shì wù gōng.
    He is good at handling daily office affairs.
  • 事务。
    Zhè wèi jì zhě duì guó jì shì wù fēi cháng liǎo jiě.
    This journalist knows a great deal about international affairs.
  • 事务。
    Shù jù kù shì wù xū yào bǎo zhèng yuán zǐ xìng.
    Database transactions need to ensure atomicity.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

事shìaffair
务wùbusiness

事 and 务 both point to matters to be handled, giving work or affairs.

Characters in this word

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 務; 务 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
敄
敄wù務wù
Same sound today

In the traditional form 務, 力 shows the sense of strength or effort, while 敄 gives the sound. The simplified 务 is a later shorthand.

Open 务 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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