百事通 (bǎi shì tōng) — a person who knows everything; walking encyclopedia; know-it-all

Definition

A 百事通 is a 'know-it-all' — someone who claims to know about everything. Often slightly negative, suggesting they only think they know it all (like 'self-important' 自以为是).

noun
a person who knows everythingwalking encyclopediaknow-it-all
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 百事通，。
    Tā zhēn shì gè bǎi shì tōng, shén me wèn tí dōu néng huí dá.
    He's really a walking encyclopedia; he can answer any question.
  • 百事通，。
    Dà jiā dōu jiào tā bǎi shì tōng, yīn wèi tā zhī dào hěn duō lì shǐ gù shi.
    Everyone calls him a know-it-all because he knows many historical stories.
  • ，百事通。
    Bié tài xiāng xìn tā, tā zhǐ shì gè zì yǐ wéi shì de bǎi shì tōng.
    Don't trust him too much; he's just a self-righteous know-it-all.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

百事many matters
百bǎimany事shìmatters
偏正Modifier + head
通tōngknow thoroughly

From 百事 and 通: many matters are known thoroughly.

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
一一yī
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái百bǎi
Same sound today

百 combines 一, which carries the number meaning, with 白, which provides the sound.

Open 百 →

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →

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