Chinese word

一回事

Pronunciation

Pinyinyī huí shì

Meaning

  • nounthe same thing

Example

这两件事不是一回事。zhè liǎng jiàn shì bú shì yì huí shì

These two things are not the same thing.

Illustration for 一回事 (the same thing)

More examples

别把小错误当作一回事。bié bǎ xiǎo cuò wù dàng zuò yì huí shì

Do not treat small mistakes as a big deal.

Core concept

Two different-looking matters placed in the same box because they share one essential identity.

Common phrases

  • 不是一回事bú shì yì huí shì

    not the same thing

  • 当作一回事dàng zuò yì huí shì

    treat as a big deal

Similar words

事情shì qíng: An event that has happened or a matter connected with a person or situation.
情况qíng kuàng: The state of affairs or conditions at a particular time or in a particular place.

Definition in Chinese

表示两件事在根本上属于同一件事，而非仅仅相似或相关。biǎo shì liǎng jiàn shì zài gēn běn shàng shǔ yú tóng yí jiàn shì ér fēi jín jǐn xiāng sì huò xiāng guān

Word origin

一 (yī, "one") + 回 (huí, "occurrence") + 事 (shì, "matter") form 一回事 (yīhuíshì, "one matter"), framing separate situations as one underlying matter.

Usage tips

  • English often uses "same" for identical objects, while this Chinese noun phrase can compare two proposals or situations by their purpose or substance, even when their wording and details differ.

Other meanings

  • similar thingnoun

Opposites

  • 两回事liǎng huí shìtwo different thingsnoun

Word lists with this word