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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.
Frequency#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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 事务
事务Simplified
事務Traditional
—Strokes
—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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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
Complete the Sentence
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。
tā mén shí cháng xiàn rù kū zào de rì cháng shì wù zhī zhōng。
All too often they become enmeshed in deadening routines.
2
他对国际事务缺乏经验且无知，这很让我吃惊。
tā duì guó jì shì wù quē fá jīng yàn qiě wú zhī， ， zhè hěn ràng wǒ chī。
I was alarmed by his naivety and ignorance of international affairs.
3
破产事务官想要将这些店铺打包整体出售。
pò chǎn shì wù guān xiǎng yào jiāng zhè xiē diàn pū dǎ bāo zhěng tǐ chū shòu。
The receivers are keen to sell the stores as one lot.
4
她是壳牌公司法律事务部唯一的女性。
tā shì ké pái gōng sī fǎ lǜ shì wù bù wéi yī de nǚ xìng。
She was the only woman in Shell's legal department.
5
他们对外人擅自干预他们的事务非常愤慨。
tā mén duì wài rén shàn zì gān yù tā mén de shì wù fēi cháng fèn kǎi。
They're resentful that outsiders presume to meddle in their affairs.
6
他在神学和政治事务上都是最终的仲裁人。
tā zài shén xué hé zhèng zhì shì wù shàng dū shì zuì zhōng de zhòng cái rén。
He was the ultimate arbiter on both theological and political matters.
I do some work for Smith and Dale, Your company's accounting firm.
Cultural Notes for 事务
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about 事务
You can say, '我有很多事务要处理' (I have many affairs to handle).
Yes, 事务 is primarily used in formal or professional contexts, unlike more casual terms for 'work'.
Synonyms include 工作 (work) and 事项 (items or matters), but they may differ slightly in usage.
