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怪事 (guài shì) — strange thing; odd occurrence

Definition

A 怪事 is a strange event or unexplained occurrence — something real that happened, not a supernatural claim (that's 怪现象 or 灵异事件). The measure word is 件, as in 一件怪事.

noun
strange thingodd occurrence
Measure word · 件

Examples

  • 怪事，。
    Zhè jiàn guài shì fā shēng zhī hòu, dà jiā dōu jué de bù kě sī yì.
    After this strange thing happened, everyone found it unbelievable.
  • 怪事。
    Méi yǒu rén néng jiě shì zuó wǎn fā shēng de guài shì.
    No one can explain the strange thing that happened last night.
  • 怪事，。
    Tā jīng cháng yù dào gè zhǒng guài shì, dàn cóng bú hài pà.
    He often encounters all kinds of strange things, but is never afraid.

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.

怪guàistrange
事shìevent

“怪” (strange) describes “事” (event), giving a strange thing.

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
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
圣
圣shèng怪guài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

怪 is built from 忄, a form of 心, which relates to mind or feeling, and 圣, which gives the sound.

Open 怪 →

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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