事件

じけん

event, affair, incident

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Understanding 事件 (shìjiàn)

The word 事件 primarily refers to an "event" or "incident," often with a connotation of something noteworthy or significant, such as a crime or an important occurrence. It is commonly used in news, police reports, and formal discussions.

Usage Nuances

事件 usually implies something more serious or newsworthy than just any event. For example, a crime or accident is often called 事件, whereas a casual gathering might not be.

Common Collocations

These collocations highlight the formal and often serious tone of the word.

Avoiding Confusion

Don't confuse 事件 with 事情 (shìqing), which means "matter" or "thing" and is more general and informal. 事件 usually refers to a specific incident or event, often with some impact or importance.

Summary

Use 事件 when referring to specific incidents, especially those that are significant or require attention, such as crimes, accidents, or important occurrences.

Example Sentences

The police are investigating this theft incident.

This meeting discussed many important events.

He always likes to treat small matters as big events.