事过境迁 (shì guò jìng qiān) — things have changed; circumstances alter cases; the situation is no longer what it was

Definition

A chengyu meaning the matter is over and circumstances have shifted, so what was true before no longer applies. Used to explain why past conflicts, promises, or feelings should be set aside.

idiom
things have changedcircumstances alter casesthe situation is no longer what it was

Examples

  • 事过境迁，。
    shì guò jìng qiān, Wǒ men bú yào zài wéi nà jiàn shì zhēng chǎo le.
    Things have changed; let's not argue about that matter anymore.
  • 事过境迁，。
    Suī rán shì guò jìng qiān, dàn nà shí de jīng yàn yī rán zhí dé zhēn xī.
    Although circumstances have changed, the experience from that time is still worth cherishing.
  • 事过境迁，。
    shì guò jìng qiān, Dāng nián de péng you zǎo yǐ gè bèn dōng xī.
    Time has passed and the situation is different; those old friends have long gone their separate ways.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

事过things pass
事shìthings过guòpass
主谓Subject + predicate
境迁circumstances change
境jìngcircumstances迁qiānchange
主谓Subject + predicate

事过 means things pass and 境迁 means circumstances change, together saying the situation has altered.

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 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi過guò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
竟
竟jìng境jìng
Same sound today

境 pairs 土 (earth) with 竟, which gives the sound; the 土 part carries the meaning.

Open 境 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 迁 →

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