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事务 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
事务
shìwù
(political, economic etc) affairs
HSK 6, n, 13 strokes, rank #4898, Hard
事务
shìwù
work
HSK 6, n, 13 strokes, rank #4898, Hard
事务
shìwù
transaction (as in a computer database)
HSK 6, n, 13 strokes, rank #4898, Hard
shìwù(shi4wu4)shi wu T4
1(political, economic etc) affairs
2work
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March 24, 2026
事务(事務)shìwù(shi4wu4)
事务 refers to affairs or matters that require attention or action, often in a formal or professional context. It can denote work-related tasks, transactions in various fields such as business or politics, and is commonly used in discussions about administrative duties or responsibilities.
Strokes13Frequency#4898DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 事务 is deeply tied to the perception of responsibility and duty, particularly in professional environments where efficiency and accountability are highly valued.
Memory tip
Think of 事 (shi4) as 'matter' and 务 (wu4) as 'work'—together they symbolize 'matters that require work.' Imagine a busy office where employees are handling various事务, making it easier to remember the connection between work and affairs.
Meanings of 事务
shìwù(shi4wu4)
1(political, economic etc) affairs
2work
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 事务 means.
About 事务
事务Simplified
事務Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4898Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 事务
Podcast: 事务
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AI study notes for 事务
Quick Contrast
事 (shì) vs 事情 (shìqíng) — use 事务 for formal or professional matters, while 事情 is more general and can refer to any kind of event or situation.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context in which 事务 is used; it typically appears in formal or business settings. Common collocations include '事务处理' (handling affairs) and '事务所' (firm or office). Watch out for tone errors: this word must be pronounced with the correct fourth tones to convey the right meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 事务 is often found in advanced reading materials related to business or politics. Students should focus on recognizing it in various contexts and practicing its usage in sentence structures involving responsibilities and tasks.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 事务 with 事物 (shi4 wu4), which means 'things' or 'objects.' For example, saying '我喜欢这个事务' (I like this affair) instead of '我喜欢这个事物' (I like this thing) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 事务
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Knowing 事务 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
How to say (political, economic etc) affairs in Chinese
“(political, economic etc) affairs” in Chinese is事务shìwù
事务 refers to affairs or matters that require attention or action, often in a formal or professional context. It can denote work-related tasks, transactions in various fields such as business or politics, and is commonly used in discussions about administrative duties or responsibilities.
When to use 事务
Be mindful of the context in which 事务 is used; it typically appears in formal or business settings. Common collocations include '事务处理' (handling affairs) and '事务所' (firm or office). Watch out for tone errors: this word must be pronounced with the correct fourth tones to convey the right meaning.
事务 or something close to it
事 (shì) vs 事情 (shìqíng) — use 事务 for formal or professional matters, while 事情 is more general and can refer to any kind of event or situation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 事务 with 事物 (shi4 wu4), which means 'things' or 'objects.' For example, saying '我喜欢这个事务' (I like this affair) instead of '我喜欢这个事物' (I like this thing) is incorrect.
Write 事务
事
务
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Practice writing 事务 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 事务
事务 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们时常陷入枯燥的日常____之中。
All too often they become enmeshed in deadening routines.
Example sentences for 事务 (10)
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1
他们时常陷入枯燥的日常事务之中。
tāmen shícháng xiànrù kūzào de rìcháng shìwù zhīzhōng。
All too often they become enmeshed in deadening routines.
