事务

shìwù: 事务 - Affair, Matter, Business, Transaction

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: shiwu, 事务, Chinese for business, Chinese for matter, transaction in Chinese, affair in Chinese, handle affairs, shiwu meaning, 事务 vs 事情, professional matters Chinese, HSK 5
  • Summary: Learn the Chinese word 事务 (shìwù), a formal term for “affair,” “matter,” or “business,” commonly used in professional, administrative, and technical contexts. This page explores its meaning, character breakdown, and practical usage, clearly distinguishing it from the more general term `事情 (shìqing)`. Discover how `事务` is used in the office, in government, and even in computer science as the word for a “transaction.”

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): shìwù
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: A matter, affair, or task, typically of a formal, professional, or official nature.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 事务 (shìwù) as the tasks and responsibilities that make up a job or official duty. It's less about a single, random “thing” you have to do (`事情`, shìqing) and more about the structured “business” or “affairs” you need to handle. If you're managing a project, dealing with legal paperwork, or handling company operations, you are dealing with `事务`.

Character Breakdown

  • 事 (shì): This character means “matter,” “affair,” “event,” or “thing.” It represents a specific event or item of business that needs attention.
  • 务 (wù): This character means “task,” “duty,” or “affair.” It contains the radical for strength (力, lì), emphasizing that this is a task requiring effort and dedication. It's about being engaged in something necessary.
  • When combined, 事务 (shìwù) literally means “matter-task.” This powerfully conveys the idea of specific matters that require dedicated, structured effort to complete, which is why it's used in formal and professional settings.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The Bureaucratic and Professional Sphere: Unlike culturally deep words like `关系 (guānxi)`, the significance of `事务` is rooted in China's modern, organized, and often bureaucratic society. It reflects an orderly, procedural approach to work and official responsibilities. Using `事务` correctly signals a high level of formality and professionalism.
  • Comparison to “Affair” and “Business” (in English):
    • “Affair”: In English, “an affair” can imply a romantic relationship. `事务` has absolutely no romantic connotation. It is strictly professional or official. While you can say “affairs of state,” which is a perfect match, the more common usage of “affair” can be a dangerous “false friend” for learners.
    • “Business”: While `事务` can mean business (as in, “Let's get down to business”), it does not mean “a business” (as in, a company). A company is a `公司 (gōngsī)`. `事务` refers to the operational tasks *within* a company or organization.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • `事务` is a formal word. You would rarely use it in casual conversation with friends about your personal plans. It's most common in written form or in professional, academic, or official spoken contexts.
  • === In the Workplace ===
    • It's used to describe daily work, project responsibilities, and administrative tasks.
    • Example: `处理日常事务` (chǔlǐ rìcháng shìwù) - To handle daily affairs/routine business.
  • === In Government and Administration ===
    • It's a cornerstone of official language, appearing in terms for different government departments.
    • Example: `国务院台湾事务办公室` (Guówùyuàn Táiwān Shìwù Bàngōngshì) - The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
  • === In Computing and Technology ===
    • Crucially for anyone in the tech field, `事务` is the standard term for a “transaction” in database management (an atomic operation that must complete fully or not at all).
    • Example: `数据库事务` (shùjùkù shìwù) - Database transaction.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 他每天都要处理很多公司事务。
    • Pinyin: Tā měitiān dōu yào chǔlǐ hěn duō gōngsī shìwù.
    • English: He has to handle many company affairs every day.
    • Analysis: This is a classic workplace example. `事务` is used because these are structured, professional tasks, not just random “things” (`事情`). The verb `处理` (chǔlǐ - to handle) is a very common partner for `事务`.
  • Example 2:
    • 请您稍等，我手头还有一些事务没处理完。
    • Pinyin: Qǐng nín shāo děng, wǒ shǒutóu hái yǒu yīxiē shìwù méi chǔlǐ wán.
    • English: Please wait a moment, I still have some business at hand that I haven't finished.
    • Analysis: A polite and formal way to tell someone you are busy with work. Using `事务` here sounds more professional than saying `事情 (shìqing)`.
  • Example 3:
    • 这位律师专门处理复杂的法律事务。
    • Pinyin: Zhè wèi lǜshī zhuānmén chǔlǐ fùzá de fǎlǜ shìwù.
    • English: This lawyer specializes in handling complex legal affairs.
    • Analysis: `法律事务` (fǎlǜ shìwù) means “legal affairs.” This highlights how `事务` is used for specific professional domains.
  • Example 4:
    • 在数据库中，事务的原子性非常重要。
    • Pinyin: Zài shùjùkù zhōng, shìwù de yuánzǐxìng fēicháng zhòngyào.
    • English: In a database, the atomicity of a transaction is very important.
    • Analysis: This shows the critical technical meaning of `事务` as a “transaction” in computer science.
  • Example 5:
    • 我们需要一个新系统来管理部门内部的事务。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào yīgè xīn xìtǒng lái guǎnlǐ bùmén nèibù de shìwù.
    • English: We need a new system to manage the department's internal affairs.
    • Analysis: `事务` here refers to the official, operational tasks and processes within a specific department.
  • Example 6:
    • 作为经理，他的主要职责是协调各种事务。
    • Pinyin: Zuòwéi jīnglǐ, tā de zhǔyào zhízé shì xiétiáo gèzhǒng shìwù.
    • English: As a manager, his main responsibility is to coordinate various matters.
    • Analysis: This emphasizes the managerial role of overseeing and organizing multiple professional tasks (`事务`).
  • Example 7:
    • 财务事务必须由专业会计师来处理。
    • Pinyin: Cáiwù shìwù bìxū yóu zhuānyè kuàijìshī lái chǔlǐ.
    • English: Financial affairs must be handled by a professional accountant.
    • Analysis: `财务` (cáiwù) means “finance.” `财务事务` is a set phrase for “financial affairs,” another example of domain-specific usage.
  • Example 8:
    • 他因公务事务繁忙而无法参加会议。
    • Pinyin: Tā yīn gōngwù shìwù fánmáng ér wúfǎ cānjiā huìyì.
    • English: He was unable to attend the meeting due to being busy with official business.
    • Analysis: `公务` (gōngwù) means “official/public duties.” This combination reinforces the formal, non-personal nature of `事务`.
  • Example 9:
    • 律师事务所通常在市中心。
    • Pinyin: Lǜshī shìwùsuǒ tōngcháng zài shìzhōngxīn.
    • English: Law firms are usually in the city center.
    • Analysis: This shows a key derived term, `事务所` (shìwùsuǒ), which means “firm” or “office” for professional services (law, accounting, etc.).
  • Example 10:
    • 董事会讨论了公司的未来发展事务。
    • Pinyin: Dǒngshìhuì tǎolùnle gōngsī de wèilái fāzhǎn shìwù.
    • English: The board of directors discussed matters concerning the company's future development.
    • Analysis: Here, `事务` refers to high-level strategic matters, fitting for a board meeting context.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • The Biggest Pitfall: `事务 (shìwù)` vs. `事情 (shìqing)`
    • This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
    • `事情 (shìqing)`: Use this for general, everyday “things,” “matters,” or “events.” It can be personal or professional, big or small. It's the default word.
      • Correct: 我今天有很多事情要做。(Wǒ jīntiān yǒu hěn duō shìqing yào zuò.) - I have a lot of things to do today. (Could be chores, errands, work, etc.)
    • `事务 (shìwù)`: Use this for formal, official, or professional tasks that are often part of a job or procedure. It sounds more structured and serious.
      • Correct: 经理在办公室处理事务。(Jīnglǐ zài bàngōngshì chǔlǐ shìwù.) - The manager is handling business in the office.
  • Example of Incorrect Usage:
    • Incorrect: 朋友，你今天有什么事务吗？(Péngyǒu, nǐ jīntiān yǒu shénme shìwù ma?)
    • Why it's wrong: This sounds overly formal and strange, like asking a friend in English, “Friend, do you have any official business to attend to today?” You are asking about their general plans, not their professional duties.
    • How to fix it: 朋友，你今天有什么事情吗？(Péngyǒu, nǐ jīntiān yǒu shénme shìqing ma?) - Friend, do you have anything going on today?

Related Terms and Concepts

  • `事情 (shìqing)` - The general, all-purpose word for “matter” or “thing to do.” `事务` is a more formal and specific subset of `事情`.
  • `任务 (rènwù)` - A specific, assigned task or mission. It's more goal-oriented than `事务`, which can refer to ongoing duties.
  • `业务 (yèwù)` - Business or professional operations, especially the core commercial activities of a company (e.g., sales, services). It's about the type of work a company *does*.
  • `工作 (gōngzuò)` - Work; a job. This refers to the employment itself, while `事务` refers to the tasks done as part of the work.
  • `处理 (chǔlǐ)` - To handle, to deal with, to process. This verb is the most common partner for `事务`.
  • `公务 (gōngwù)` - Official business; government affairs. A more specific type of `事务` related to public or government roles.
  • `财务 (cáiwù)` - Financial affairs. Another specific type of `事务`.
  • `事务所 (shìwùsuǒ)` - A firm or office for professional services, directly derived from `事务`. Examples: `律师事务所` (lǜshī shìwùsuǒ) - law firm; `会计师事务所` (kuàijìshī shìwùsuǒ) - accounting firm.