Word
事情
Meaning in Englishcircumstances, situation, reasons
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
Related sentences
Related sentences
There are no published items in this section yet.
Word context
What it means
What does 事情 mean? It refers to the surrounding conditions or factors that influence a matter; the practical context or state of affairs, including reasons or circumstances.
Main meanings
- Circumstances or the state of affairs surrounding a matter — jijou
- Reasons or causes behind an action or situation — jijou
- Personal or private matters related to someone’s affairs — jijou
How to use it
Used as a neutral noun in both formal writing and everyday speech to refer to the surrounding circumstances, the reasons behind something, or the current state of affairs; commonly appears in phrases like 事情を説明する and 事情がある, and can denote both general context and private considerations.
Variants and close terms
- 状況 — jōkyō (circumstance, situation)
- 都合 — tsugō (circumstances, convenience)
- 私事 — shiji (private matters)
Composition
- 事: thing, matter
- 情: feeling, condition
- Combined meaning: the state or conditions surrounding a matter; context and reasons
Etymology
From the on'yomi readings of 事 (ji) and 情 (jō) combined to form the compound jijō.
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N3
物事
monogoto
things, matters, affairs
N3
友情
yuujou
friendship, fellowship
N3
知事
chiji
governor, prefectural governor
N4
用事
youji
errand, business, task
N4
事務所
jimusho
office, agency
N4
事
koto
thing, matter, fact, event
N4
事故
jiko
accident, incident
N4
火事
kaji
fire, conflagration
N4
返事
henji
reply, answer, response
Kanji