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出事 (chū shì) — to have an accident, to meet with a mishap (often for unexpected bad events)

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to have an accident' or 'something bad happens' — always used for unexpected mishaps, never for planned events. Functions as a verb-object phrase (离合词); commonly split with 一 as in 出了一次事.

verb
to have an accidentto meet with a mishap (often for unexpected bad events)

Examples

  • 出事。
    Tā kāi chē de shí hou chū shì le.
    He had an accident while driving.
  • 。
    Zuó tiān gāo sù gōng lù shàng chū le yí cì shì.
    There was an accident on the highway yesterday.
  • ，出事。
    Dà jiā dōu hěn dān xīn, pà tā chū shì.
    Everyone is very worried, afraid he might have an accident.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

出chūcome out
事shìmatter

出 means come out and 事 means matter, giving the sense that an accident comes out.

Characters in this word

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

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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
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