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没事 (méi shì) — it's nothing; it's okay; don't worry

Definition

没事 is a casual reply to thanks or apologies, meaning 'it's nothing / no problem' — also used to say someone is 'fine / okay'. Lighter and more everyday than the formal 好说.

verb
it's nothingit's okaydon't worry

Examples

  • A:。B:没事。
    A: duì bu qǐ. B: méi shì.
    A: I'm sorry. B: It's nothing.
  • 没事，。
    Tā méi shì, tā hěn hǎo.
    He's fine; he's very well.
  • 没事，。
    Wǒ méi shì, xiè xie.
    I'm okay, thanks.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

没méinot have
事shìmatter

没 “not have” + 事 “matter” gives “there is no matter,” hence it’s nothing or okay.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 沒; 没 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬛
𠬛𠬛沒mò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 沒 pairs 水 (water) with 𠬛 as a sound part; this note is about 沒, not the simplified 没.

Open 没 →

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 →
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