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行事 (xíng shì) — (v.o.) to handle affairs, to conduct matters; (n.) behavior, conduct

Definition

行事 means 'to act / conduct oneself' and emphasizes the manner or style of how something is done (often formal/written). As a verb-object, it pairs with 风格 ('行事风格'); as a noun, it means 'behavior, conduct'.

verb
(v.o.) to handle affairsto conduct matters(n.) behaviorconduct

Examples

  • ，行事。
    Tā zuò shì hěn yǒu yuán zé, cóng bù suí yì xíng shì.
    He acts with principles and never handles affairs casually.
  • ，。
    Tā xíng le yí jiàn bú yì zhī shì, ràng dà jiā dōu shī wàng le.
    He carried out an unjust act, disappointing everyone.
  • 行事。
    Tā de xíng shì fēng gé fēi cháng guǒ duàn lì luo.
    His way of doing things is very decisive and efficient.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

行xíngdo
事shìaffair

行 means do and 事 means affairs, covering doing affairs or conduct.

Characters in this word

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

  • 彳彳chì
  • 亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Open 行 →

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 Concepts5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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