(yǒu shì) - to have something to do, to be busy in Mandarin

yǒushì

Traditional: 有事

#925 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

to have something to do, to be busy

Word origin

A compound of 有 (yǒu, 'to have') and 事 (shì, 'matter, affair'), meaning 'to have something to do'. 事 derives from an ancient depiction of a hand holding an implement, related to 史 and 吏.

Origin: compound
Root: 有 (yǒu, 'to have') + 事 (shì, 'matter, affair')

Stroke order

有

事

Examples

，。

I have something on today, I cannot go.

。

If anything comes up, please ring me.

？

Are you busy, or is something the matter?

，。

I have something on this afternoon and cannot go.

。

If there is anything wrong, please tell me directly.

有事 (yǒu shì) means to have something to do or to be busy.

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Used in

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有事: worksheet, infographic and listicle

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This word is part of lesson 19.