Word
事情
Meaning in Englishcircumstances, situation, reasons
Animated kanji stroke order
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)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
事項
jikou
matter(s), item(s), facts
N1
事前
jizen
prior, beforehand, in advance
N1
情勢
jousei
state of things, condition, situation
N1
情緒
joucho
emotion, feeling
N1
情熱
jounetsu
passion, enthusiasm, zeal
N1
心情
shinjou
mentality
N1
従事
juuji
engaging, pursuing, following
N2
お大事に
odaijini
Take care of yourself, Take care!, Get well soon
N2
行事
gyouji
event, function