字 字源HanziOrigin
中文EnglishFrançaisEspañolالعربيةРусский
事
shì
affair, matter
At a glance · 事

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

事 Evolution of the glyph
  1. 事 Object sketch
    Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
  2. 事 Oracle bone
    Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
  3. 事 Seal script
    Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
  4. 事 Clerical script
    Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
  5. 事 Regular script
    Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

事字小篆从史（手中持笔），会意为治事、职事；本义为事情、事务。甲骨文象手持猎具从事之形。

What the sketch shows

事 Object sketch

Origins & notes

事本义为事情、事务、职事。

Structure

会意字，从史（记事），表示所掌职事。

At a glance

Pinyinshì
Radical亅
Strokes8
UnicodeU+4E8B
Character type会意
Theme政事

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English affair, matter Shi is an associative character meaning affair, matter and business.
Français affaire, chose Shi est un caractère associatif signifiant affaire, chose et affaires.
Español asunto, cosa Shi es un carácter asociativo que significa asunto, cosa y negocio.
العربية أمر، شأن شي حرف تركيبي يعني الأمر والشأن والعمل.
Русский дело, событие Ши — ассоциативный знак, означающий дело, событие и занятие.

Common words

  • 事情shì qíngmatter
  • 事业shì yècareer

Related characters