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琐事 (suǒ shì) — trivial matter, trifle

Definition

noun
trivial mattertrifle
Measure word · 件

Examples

  • 琐事。
    Bié wèi zhè xiē suǒ shì làng fèi shí jiān le.
    Don't waste time on these trivial matters.
  • 琐事。
    Tā zhěng tiān máng yú chǔ lǐ gè zhǒng suǒ shì.
    He is busy dealing with all kinds of trivial matters all day long.
  • 琐事。
    Shēng huó zhōng yǒu hěn duō suǒ shì ràng rén xīn fán.
    There are many trivial matters in life that annoy people.

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.

琐suǒtrivial
事shìmatter

琐 adds the sense of petty or trivial, and 事 names a matter, so together they mean small, unimportant affairs.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 琐 →

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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