Word
用事
Meaning in Englisherrand, business, task
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
用事 means a matter or task you need to handle; a personal errand or obligation that takes you away from other activities.
Main meanings
- Primary sense: a matter to attend to, such as a personal errand or task that must be completed.
- Usage nuance: typically refers to everyday life tasks rather than formal work obligations.
- Common expressions: 用事がある to have something to do; 用事を済ませる to take care of errands.
How to use it
Used in casual and everyday speech to refer to personal errands or matters requiring action; in polite contexts you may contrast it with 用件 to denote a specific business item, and you often see phrases like 用事がある or 用事を済ませる to explain absence or pending tasks.
Variants and close terms
- 用件 (youken) — matter or business item; more neutral or formal
- 仕事 (shigoto) — work, task (broader sense)
- 予定 (yotei) — plan, schedule (related concept but not a direct substitute)
Composition
- 用: use, purpose
- 事: thing, matter
- Together: a matter to attend to, i.e., an errand or personal business
Etymology
用 = use, purpose; 事 = matter, affair; youji is a native Japanese kun'yomi compound that combines these concepts into the sense of a personal matter or task to be attended to, with no major phonetic shifts in modern usage.
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
用紙
youshi
a form
N1
用品
youhin
articles, supplies, parts
N1
用法
youhou
directions, rules of use
N1
濫用
ranyou
abuse, misuse, using to excess
N2
応用
ouyou
application, put to practical use
N2
お大事に
odaijini
Take care of yourself, Take care!, Get well soon
N2
行事
gyouji
event, function
N2
工事
kouji
construction work
N2
実用
jitsuyou
practical use, utility
Kanji